Florida should aspire to an economy not dependent on the false dreams of the gaming industry
Bet you didn't know Florida already is the fourth-biggest gaming state in the nation.
State residents and visitors currently have many options at their disposal: Florida Lotto, Indian casinos, greyhound- and horse-racing tracks and offshore casino cruises. In addition, slot machine gaming is available, by legislative decree, in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
However, for some state lawmakers who view gaming as an answer to Florida's budget woes, No. 4 isn't good enough. They hope to go all-in and allow traditional casino games such as roulette, craps and blackjack at up to five large, destination resort casinos. Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole, plans to introduce such a proposal in the upcoming legislative session.
A report by the Senate Regulated Industries Committee is fueling interest in Tallahassee. It details how 13 other states have benefited monetarily by allowing Las Vegas-style casinos.
Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said recently he believes there's a "50/50 chance" lawmakers will approve legislation this year to create destination resort casinos in the Sunshine State.
Not so fast.
Gaming may well be a good source of revenue for state government, but have lawmakers considered the unintended consequences?
The Washington, D.C.-based Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation (www.stoppredatorygambling.org), which actively opposes legislative efforts nationwide to expand legalized gaming, documents the negative effects on communities when gambling options are close at hand. These include an increase in the number of compulsive gamblers and a loss of jobs in existing businesses and restaurants suddenly forced to compete with casinos. [known as cannibalization]
The organization cites the 2010 New Hampshire Gambling Commission report that concluded "one casino would raise $219 million in state revenue, but the total social cost would be $287.7 million: a net drain of $68.7 million."
Gaming also has a negative impact on bankruptcy rates.
A 2004 study titled "The Impact of Casino Gambling on Bankruptcy Rates: A County Level Analysis" matched 250 counties nationwide that had legalized casino gambling with 250 counties of comparable population, household income, etc., but without casinos Creighton University law professor Edward Morse and economics professor Ernie Goss compared the bankruptcy rates in those matching counties over several years. The result?
"Our regression analysis on matched-pair counties indicates that those counties that legalized casino gambling during the 1990s experienced a cumulative growth rate in individual bankruptcies that was more than double the growth rate for corresponding non-casino counties," the authors said.
Does the Sunshine State really want to become even more of a partner with an industry that fuels addiction and irresponsible behavior?
Florida should aspire to something greater: a wholesome economy that enables residents to earn an honest wage, not an economy supported, in part, by the false dreams of instant wealth.
The state's investment in technology-related industries — Digital Domain and Torrey Pines are local examples — will require highly educated workers and pay them a good wage. The demands and investments of such enterprises will lead to an improved educational system, which will empower students' futures.
Florida does not need to waste its efforts luring an industry that pays, for example, its blackjack dealers an average of $14,525, according to mysalary.com.
Florida lawmakers should adamantly reject any proposal to expand gaming.
Our state is better than this. And our people deserve better from our elected officials.
This is worth a review: Blackjack dealers:
Empress Hotel & Casino Joliet
Joliet, Illinois
Pay Rate: $4.50/hr.
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