A case for legalized gambling in Texas
CORPUS CHRISTI — Much has been said about the issue of legalizing gambling in Texas during this legislative session. The anti-gaming factions have produced their arguments against and the pro- gaming supporters have done the same with their arguments for. However, left out in these arguments, for the most part, have been the results of some key studies, as well as the need to "localize" the argument in terms of individual community economic and employment needs. First, the greater Baltimore Committee, in conjunction with the University of Maryland, looked at data from other existing gaming jurisdictions and concluded that "casinos are not likely to have a substantial impact on crime and other social problems." Secondly, according to research conducted for the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, some of the most common indicators of social welfare improved with the advent of gaming. Further, a report by the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center found those communities nearest to casinos experienced a 12 percent to 17 percent drop in welfare payments, unemployment rates and unemployment insurance premiums after the introduction of casino gaming. Third, a comprehensive survey of casino employees, conducted by PricewaterhouseCooper of 178,000 employees, found that 16 percent had used their casino jobs to replace unemployment benefits, 63 percent had improved their access to health care benefits, 43 percent had better access to day care for their children, 65 percent had been able to develop new job skills as a result of their employment and 78 percent indicated that their employer provided them with training to perform their job. Fourth, in other research funded by the gambling study commission, Adam Rose, an economist at Penn State University, concluded: "A new casino, of even limited attractiveness, placed in a market that is not already saturated, will yield positive economic benefits on net to its host economy." The question of the value of gaming to the City of Corpus Christi needs to be evaluated locally. We need jobs, we need more tourism-attractive activities, our pari-mutuel track needs revenue sources to continue its improvement and success opportunities and we need "prosperity" to solve the bulk of the primary community issues we face today. With all the above in mind, why is there such a vocal argument against allowing for a constitutional amendment vote by the citizens of Texas on the issue of legalized gaming in our state? A good question for a Legislature that is charged with enabling the will of the people, and one faced with revenue shortfalls resulting in potentially drastic budget cuts. No pro-gaming supporter is suggesting that gambling is the panacea for all of the economic challenges facing Corpus Christi nor the state of Texas, but rather that gaming can play a role in further diversifying the economic development portfolio of the region and the state for the future. If gambling did nothing more than recover half of the revenues that leave this state when Texans take gaming vacations out of state, the estimates are that it would net billions of dollars in otherwise lost revenues and taxes for our State, regions and municipalities. This does not even take into consideration the net new revenues that could be realized by attracting national and international visitors, who otherwise would not have visited Texas. Additionally, gaming has a track record of extending the stays of visitors, thereby increasing their expenditures in the tourism destination. In conclusion, the prospective employment, economic impact and tax revenues generated by casino gaming to our area, and the state of Texas, warrant, at the minimum, the voice of the people being heard through a vote on a constitutional amendment that would allow legalized gaming in Texas. The mandate for the Legislature, when that amendment is passed, would be to implement and enforce appropriate regulation that would maximize the positive effects of gaming throughout our state and the Coastal Bend, based on lessons learned from gaming destinations throughout the United States. Arthur Granado is vice chairman of the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau