Our View
By:
Shandra Jordan, editor in chief
Colleen Buhrer, managing editor
Jason Kosena, assistant campus editor
J.J. Babb, design managing editor
Liz King, asst. design managing editor
Christopher J. Ortiz, opinion editor
Amendment 33 is arguably the most talked about and most popular
ballot issue in a rather dull election. The amendment would allow
video lottery terminals at each of the five existing dog and horse
racetracks and in existing casinos. If passed, part of the revenue
earned would go toward open space, parks and tourism promotion.
The editorial board feels that making this a state ballot issue
is inappropriate and unfair to the local communities that will be
affected by this measure. An issue like this should be decided by
the cities that host the dog and horse racetracks. According to a
Coloradoan article, there is a 1994 state constitutional amendment
that requires local voter approval before casinos are approved.
This amendment is not giving local communities a chance to vote on
the VLTs. Fort Collins officials have opposed the amendment, as has
the district attorney and the Larimer County sheriff.
We also feel that allowing additional gambling during a time of
recession is not the smartest move. A survey conducted for the
National Gambling Impact Study Commission found that more than 5
million Americans are pathological or problem gamblers and an
additional 15 million are at risk. It is known that gambling often
attracts middle- and low-income people.
The campaign spending has surpassed $9.4 million, making it the
most expensive ballot initiative in Colorado history and it is
probably because there is a lot of money at stake here. For Wembley
PLC out of Great Britain, which owns four of the five racetracks,
it means additional revenue. Voters shouldn’t be lured in to this
bad deal by the money the state is going to receive from gambling
revenue. There are other avenues to promote tourism besides
gambling.
Our opinion is vote no on Amendment 33.
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