NH GOP Adopts Strongest-Ever Anti-Casino Platform

Granite State Coalition Against Expanded Gambling NoSlots.com Blog & Alerts NH GOP Adopts Strongest-Ever Anti-Casino Platform Derry, NH -- Republicans at Saturday's New Hampshire GOP convention approved their strongest-ever anti-casino platform plank. "Grassroots party activists have spoken clearly and forcefully against legalized casinos," said Jim Rubens, GSCAEG Chair, GOP convention delegate, and chair of the 2000 GOP platform committee. 2013-2014 platform language adopted at the state GOP convention on Saturday September 29: "Reject expanded casino and video lottery gambling as a means to balance the budget or increase spending" and, "Oppose expanded gambling because of the negative social consequences." "Independent polling shows that grassroots Democrats also oppose legalized casinos, and by a healthy margin," said Rubens. "Candidates in both parties are being asked by their partisans to find budget solutions that do not cause the extensive economic and social harms caused by casinos." The saturated gambling market and the four bigger, flashier casinos slated for Massachusetts limit the southern New Hampshire market to lower-end "convenience" casinos attracting mostly nearby residents. Rather than bringing promised tourism and out of state money, most New Hampshire casino revenue would be displaced or cannibalized from existing local businesses. "Regional casino market saturation and local business cannibalization are creating growing doubts among candidates in both parties," said Rubens. "Candidates would be well advised to listen to the experts on local business cannibalization." Donald Trump: "People will spend a tremendous amount of money in casinos, money that they would normally spend on buying a refrigerator or a new car. Local businesses lose customer dollars to casinos." Steve Wynn: "There is no reason on earth to expect for more than a second that just because there are people here, they're going to run into your restaurants and stores just because we build this [casino] here." Federal Reserve Bank of Boston: "Casinos that cater to a local market generally do not bring outside money into the economy ... Residents patronizing such casinos may simply substitute gambling for other goods and services." New Hampshire Democrats oppose legalized casinos. The most recent independent polling on New Hampshire voter preferences on casinos by Dartmouth College's Rockefeller Center found that Democrats oppose by 44-35. We Can't Continue To Win Against Casino Political Money Without Your Help The coming fight will be over casino bills now being drafted by casino lobbylists for next year's legislature. We cannot continue to win without your generous financial help. Please make the largest contribution to GSCAEG you are able, either online or by mail, by clicking to donate here. Three cheers, Jim Rubens, Chair, GSCAEG

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