To me, no kind of gaming is good

Contributors' views: Weighing in on casino gambling
Papers' contributors share thoughts on bill's impact on Brevard
Opinion
Mike Haridopolos

The Legislature, which convenes this week, soon will consider a bill that would more carefully regulate gaming in Florida, establish a Nevada-style commission to investigate applicants, and license casinos with slot machines and “limited gaming” tables in communities where voters approve.

State Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, told FLORIDA TODAY’s editorial board last week he would send a casino bill to the floor for an up-or-down vote.

Port Canaveral has identified a possible casino site on the Banana River south of State Road 528. Gaming could generate $1 billion or more in state revenue.

State Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, said she sponsored the bill because “To me, no kind of gaming is good, but we as policymakers have to decide, do we want gaming with five-star hotels or Internet cafes in strip malls?”

We asked our local bloggers and community columnists: Would Brevard County be better or worse economically if local voters approved casino gambling?

“Brevard County would not be better off if casino gambling was approved. The economic impact is far less than predicted, as South Florida casinos promised $500 million per year, but actually only netted about $125 million. New jobs will not be created as casinos just gobble up existing jobs while local restaurants lose business. Add in the organized crime factor and this proposal is just not a safe bet.”

Seeta Begui
Satellite Beach

“There is already plenty of gambling in Brevard on the boats and at the dog track in Melbourne, so anyone who wants to gamble can easily do so without more casinos. Gambling is a zero-sum game; it doesn't generate any useful product. Casinos would drain the savings Brevardians need for health care, food, housing, education and retirement.”

Dan Woodard
Merritt Island


“Although building a casino resort would provide short-term construction jobs and long-term service-industry jobs, I feel that the problems gambling would bring to Brevard County outweigh any benefits those jobs would bring to citizens of Brevard. We enjoy a standard of living and an atmosphere here in Brevard that would be degraded by legalized casino gambling. Brevard County can survive economically without selling its soul to Las Vegas-style gambling casinos.”

Fernando Rendon
Melbourne

“Our Florida Legislature holds the record for being the most corrupt, leads the nation in the number of federally convicted public officials and failed to pass a single ethics reform law. While I do not believe government should be legislating the morality of gambling, I have little confidence, under the leadership of Senate President Haridopolos, casinos in Brevard or Florida will benefit anyone except the casinos and those who supposedly represent us.”
Vicki Impoco
Satellite Beach