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Arguing for racinos
Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:28:21 -0700

There's an interesting op-ed piece, with opposing viewpoint, in the November 26th edition of the Rochester (MN) Post Bulletin. Arguing in favor of establishing racinos is Dick Day, former Minnesota state senator and president of Racino Now, a group that advocates adding slot machines to already existing horse racing parks. His arguments are as follows: racinos would create revenue without increasing taxes; racinos bring jobs; Minnesota residents overwhelmingly favor racinos; and finally, the state already permits gambling at 18 tribal casinos. The opposing opinion is presented by Victoria Winfrey, president of the Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Council. Her argument is that ironically the expansion of gambling establishments would actually reduce jobs. Additionally, she asserts that expanding gaming would result in "increasing demands on the state budget" for items such as healthcare and other services. Finally Winfrey contends that arguments for racinos overstate the potential benefits. Citing the economic struggles of racinos in Indiana and New Mexico, Winfrey argues that rather than provide an economic boom for the state, racinos could actually become a bust. We at Case Jack support Racino Now's efforts to bring slot machines and other games to the two existing race parks. It's one thing to offer tribal casinos special concessions and tax breaks. It's another thing altogether to allow tribal casinos to offer games that are forbidden everywhere else, which is the current state of gaming in Minnesota.

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