Anti-casino group touts trend against gambling

By Bill Novak
January 23, 2004

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The Ho-Chunk Nation might have a hard time getting a casino approved in Madison if national trends from 2003 hold true.

According to information released this week by the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, supporters of gambling were big losers last year as 42 out of 45 proposals lost in the courts, the ballot box and state capitals.

"The expansion crapped out, went bust and turned up a loser," said Tom Grey, executive director of the coalition and a chief ally in No Dane Casino's fight against the Ho-Chunk Nation's proposal.

The 45 gambling proposals were made in 30 states in 2003 and included 21 slot machine expansion proposals, six new casino proposals, seven casino expansion proposals, five lottery proposals and six convenience store gambling proposals.

The only proposals approved were two slot machine proposals, one allowing machines in Maine and the other expanding slots in Oregon, and the approval of a casino riverboat in Indiana at Lake Patoka.

The approved proposals amounted to nothing more than a single coin play on a nickel slot.

"The three that survived were a slot 'barn' in Bangor, Maine, one lone casino boat in Orange County, Indiana, and 10 slot machines in Oregon, a state that already had thousands of slots and video lottery terminals," Grey said.

Lisa Pugh, spokeswoman for the Coalition for the Fair Indian Gaming and Revenue Sharing Agreements, told The Capital Times the statistics presented in the study don't necessarily reflect the attitudes a local community might have about casino gaming.

"It's not fair to compare what's presented in the study to what's happening here in Dane County," Pugh said. "The study can't possibly reflect referendums of this nature."

Grey told The Capital Times Thursday two referendums won and two lost.

"In Colorado, a slot machine and race track referendum was defeated by the voters with 81 percent voting against it," he said. "In Maine, a casino referendum was defeated but slot machines at racetracks were approved, with two communities with racetracks already voting not to allow them. And in French Lick, Indiana, a riverboat was approved.

"So all in all, it was two wins and two losses at the ballot box."

No Dane Casino spokesman David Relles told The Capital Times the scorecard was very encouraging news.

"The tide is turning," Relles said. "If we give the voters the information they need to make an informed decision we will trust the voters to make the right decision."

Dane County voters will go to the polls Feb. 17 to consider a referendum authorizing the Ho-Chunk Nation to turn the DeJope bingo hall on Madison's far southeast side into a full-fledged casino.

Both sides released economic reports this week on the positives and negatives of having a casino in Madison, with the anti-casino group's study showing a $148 million loss each year if a casino comes to town, and the pro-casino group's study saying almost 1,400 jobs will be created and $47 million a year will be added to the local economy with a casino in town.

E-mail: bnovak@madison.com

Published: 9:59 AM 1/23/04