Legalized gambling : pros and cons

[Jeff Shitaoka did the cons]

In recent years, particularly since he Gulf War, several Mainland states have legalized gambling as a way to inject money into their economies. This has led to a chain reaction of other states legalizing it in order to get a bigger share of the market, in spite of moralists' concerns.

As our state's economy spirals into a state of indefinite flatlining, perhaps an expansion of our moral code is an appropriate measure. Laws prohibiting gambling were put into place long ago by moral conservatives who could not conceive the situation that exist today.

Since laws against same-sex marriages are being questioned who can say that legalized gambling in Hawai`i would prove any more detrimental to the social fabric?

To be sure, studies have shown that an increase in crime accompanies such centers. Prostitution, racketeering, and alcohol-related crimes do force an enlargement of of police forces, but that means more jobs for local residents.

Moreover, the unskilled jobs that casinos create would augment the incomes of hard-working blue collar workers. As gambling addiction cases make news, white collar jobs in the form of therapists and psychologists expand the benefits of gambling even further.

Considering the fact the typical Japanese tourist is spending less per person nowadays, coupled with their short stays, we need to provide a new appeal to draw more money out of our Japanese and other foreign guess. Gambling goes hand-in-hand with tourism in those states that allow it, so why not legalize to assist our flagging tourism sector.

And in consideration of our state's strong Filipino heritage, let's not exclude cockfighting. This will draw tourists from developing southeast Asian nations as soon as their own economies recover. In spite of the negative impressions it might leave on visitors, it would mean more money, and that's what matters more than anything else.

If cockfighting seems repulsive to the average citizen, let there be no doubt they don't have to watch. Nobody would force people to gamble.

Besides, all the other states are doing it. In Mississippi one can gamble on the new casino piers as easily as an Illinois resident can gamble on the riverboats. In Wisconsin and elsewhere, Native Americans use the reservations as zones of extraterritoriality for tribe-owned casinos.

On top of that, we have the traditional establishments of Las Vegas and Atlantic City that take care of coastal Americans' gambling needs. Just about everywhere in the country there is someplace you co go to gamble away your life's savings.

Legalizing gambling, I admit, does have its drawbacks, but there are some major economic benefits nonetheless. Our economy would improve, and we could finally live without the fear of having our football pools broken up by the FBI.