Democracy bought for a dinner: Private dinner, secret talks

Gambling firm holds talks with local reps
Private dinner meeting aims for 'intimate' info exchange

EXETER — State Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, and representatives of Millennium Gaming are holding an invitation-only meeting tonight with Seacoast state representatives on expanding gambling in New Hampshire.

Bill Wortman, chief executive officer of Millennium Gaming and 20 percent owner of Rockingham Park race track in Salem, will treat Hassan and local representatives to dinner at The Exeter Inn.

Wortman said the gathering gives legislators an opportunity to learn more about Millennium Gaming, its operation and revenue estimates, and to participate in a question-and-answer session.

The meeting is closed to the press, Hassan said.

"I think it's important that we have a fact-based discussion on the issue. It's very hard in the midst of the busy legislative session, for people not on relative committees, to have much time for a question-and-answer session with opponents and proponents," Hassan said.

State Rep. Donna Schlachman, D-Exeter, said she is attending the session to learn more about expanding gambling in the state.

"I am still waiting for someone to show me how anything around gaming is of benefit to this state and how the positives outweigh the negatives," she said. "I am willing to go and do my best to keep an open mind."

The meeting is closed to the public in order to provide an intimate opportunity for the exchange of information, said Hassan and Jim Demers, a lobbyist for Millennium Gaming in Concord.

"We had not really thought about it any other way," Demers said. "We wanted to keep the groups small, intimate and easier for dialogue."

Millennium Gaming is a Nevada-based corporation that holds a majority interest in Cannery Casino Resorts, which owns and operates the Cannery Hotel and Casino and the Rampart Casino, both in Las Vegas.

Wortman has been in New Hampshire this week meeting with members of the Legislature and others to discuss the potential for expanded gambling in the state, Demers said. He has held sessions similar to the one tonight at The Exeter Inn with legislators in other regions of the state.

Jim Rubens, of Granite State Coalition Against Expanded Gambling, expressed skepticism of the meetings.

"They are a friendly legislative nexus. There have typically been no one invited who is opposed to gambling, and they create the appearance of consensus where there is none," he said.

The meetings avoid the problems associated with expanding gambling in the state, Rubens said.

"The facts are that when you put a gambling machine in any kind of building, near where people live, the more people who live near it will gamble in it, and some fraction of those people will become addicted," he said. "All the people who are victims will be out all the pain, suffering and money and the gambling industry will not compensate any of those victims. Those costs are greater than what the state would get out of it. It is an economic loser for the state."

Millennium Gaming desires expanded gaming and lottery terminals at Rockingham Park, Demers said.

As part of last year's Senate budget negotiations, Hassan supported the proposal for limited expansion of gambling at Rockingham Park. Ultimately, the Senate rejected the proposal.

"I think every proposal has to be looked at on its merits and has to be looked at in light of what's happening nationally and in the industry economically, but I do think it's important to be thoughtful about it," she said.

Hassan said constituents are caught between a struggling economy and rising costs, but are also aware there are areas where the state needs to fund strong programs, like education.

Increasing gaming in the state could be a sensible way to increase revenue, Hassan said.

New Hampshire had an $11.8 million shortfall in revenues in October. Overall, in the first four months of the 2010 budget, the state is running $37.7 million or around 7 percent behind the budget plan approved by the Legislature in June.

"I think we should look at gaming as a source of funding, assuming its a clean industry, there are controls on it, and opportunities for treatment for problem gamblers," she said.

A hearing of the state Gaming Study Commission was held Tuesday. At the hearing three experts on social and economic costs of casino gambling shared information.

Baylor University economics professor Earl Grinols, James Browning of Common Cause Pennsylvania and slot machine expert Kevin Harrigan held a news conference with New Hampshire gambling opponents Tuesday afternoon before testifying before the commission.

Gov. John Lynch created the commission to conduct a comprehensive study of various models for expanding gambling. The commission is looking at the potential to produce state revenue by expanding gambling and the effect that would have on New Hampshire's quality of life.