An article about Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer's effort to "do way with gambling" is presented below
Princeton Union-Eagle - August 31, 2006
Other opinion
By Rep. Tom Emmer
Either do away with gambling or treat everyone in the industry with fairness
Editor's note: Emmer, a Republican from Delano was elected in 2004. A few months ago I offered our House of Representatives to prohibit gambling
in Minnesota. I doubt that many of you heard what my reasoning was for such a radical measure or just what the amendment was intended to accomplish.
Since most folks are too busy with their daily lives to call or write, I thought you might be interested in why I offered the amendment and what
I was trying to accomplish.
I do not like the negative impact gambling has on our communities and families. Those who support any and all gambling will insist that our
communities benefit greatly from tribally owned casinos. That is not true. In fact, studies indicate that gambling causes increased crime,
addiction, bankruptcy filings, divorces and numerous related negative side-effects. Did you know that for every $46 in gambling revenue in
Minnesota, it is estimated that we lose $289 in social cost and economic opportunity?
Most people are not aware of the negative effects that gambling - and primarily casino-style the gambling - has on our communities and families.
That being said, due to the broad acceptance of this form of "entertainment" over the last 15 years it appears that it is here to stay.
Proponents of casino gambling in this state will emphasize all the economic benefit's the state derives from gambling. The fact is, the
economic benefit really pales in comparison to the amount of money that is actually being wagered. What are the facts?
According to numbers published in 2004, the state of Minnesota collected approximately $100 million dollars in revenue from the lottery,
approximately $60 million from charitable gambling and approximately $275,000 from horse racing. While this may seem to be a significant
amount of money, when we are looking at a state budget in excess of $30 billion, the revenue derived from gambling is extremely small.
Every dollar generated from gambling that goes to support our environment resources, including hunting and fishing in the state of
Minnesota, is important. I simply want to point out that gambling revenue is not the panacea that proponents would have us believe.
Again, the truth is that we lose for more money than we gain.
So you might ask "Tom", if you knew that gambling is here to stay, why did you bother to offer an amendment to prohibit gambling? If indeed
gambling is here to stay, then it is my belief that everyone involved in the industry should be treaded fairly. Did you know that according to
2004 estimates $10 billion is gambled in tribal casinos in this state? How much revenue does the state derive from tribal gambling? Zero.
That’s right -nil, nada, zilch. Tribal gaming proceeds are tax free.
Minnesota negotiated compacts with Indian tribes addressing gambling on tribal lands. When the Minnesota Lottery was made legal it also opened
the door for tribal casinos to operate their casinos? That's right; if we prohibit all gambling, then the tribal casinos would automatically
have to close as well. At least at that point we would be in a position to negotiate a better deal than the awful deal we have now.
Minnesota has the most unfair tribal compact in the United States. While it may have seemed fair at the time of negotiation (when no one
anticipated casino-style gaming developing over night), it is not fair to all citizens of the state of Minnesota today. Some might say,
"We negotiated the tribal compacts and now we have an obligation to abide by the terms." Did you now that the compacts provided that
either party can request to negotiate a new deal at any time? Most people do not know this fact. Many think we are stuck with this bad deal for
99 years or some such nonsense.
Our governor attempted to reach out to our tribal citizens to renegotiate the compacts so gambling revenues could be shared equitably amongst
all Minnesotans. The tribes with the most successful gaming operations, apparently motivated by greed, shunned our governor. From my perspective,
if the tribal casinos are not interested in fairness, then perhaps by eliminating gambling, and their casinos in the process. We might encourage
them to consider their obligation to all the citizens of this great state.
That was my reasoning and, as long as the majority of Minnesotans favor lawful gambling, you can bet your bottom dollar that I will continue to
push for fairness.
