The responses to a Tuesday editorial about casino gambling have been interesting, including one on this blog characterizing it as a “shameless plug for casinos.” Gambling opponent Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, e-mailed to, among other things, inquire why we “think the state should own and operate gambling casinos” and “increase the potential for political corruption in this state.” Another reader suggested that voters who have approved nonbinding referendums welcoming a casino would vote differently if they knew the facts.
Landwehr’s point about the unseemliness of state-owned and -operated casinos is relevant to the Statehouse debate so far, but there are other possible paths to expanded gambling in Kansas, including off-reservation casinos such as the one proposed for Park City and a constitutional amendment to allow privately owned casinos.
It’s not that Kansas can’t live without more casinos. Obviously, it can. And the concerns about social costs and political corruption are real. But many Kansans already enjoy gambling and would like to be free to gamble closer to home, where the revenues these places generate could help fund government services and even provide tax relief. Especially as more counties speak up and say “we want one,” it seems like the Legislature’s job to find the path that’s right for Kansas.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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17 Comments
A Casino doesn’t bother me. There are many of them around that is easily excessible to anybody who really wants to go. Las Vegas is a short and cheap flight, Harrah’s, KC Riverboats, Oklahoma, they are everywhere and nothing going to stop people from going.
It’s fine with me. Although I did drive by the Native Lights Casino that is advertising like crazy down near Newkirk last week, and I was surprised that the place was a small dinky place, compared to an average casino. I mean, it was no bigger than a Borders Book Store from the looks of it.
So “Debbie” Landwehr emailed the Eagle to ask why they think the state should expand casino gambling.Has anybody bothered to investigate IF she thinks?
In a recent EAGLE blog, someone mentioned that White Cloud, Kansas, appeared to be benefitting from a nearby casino operated by the Iowa Indian tribe. So I asked friends about this.
I learned White Cloud is a tiny community located on the Missouri River in Doniphan County in far northeast Kansas. However, the “White Cloud” casino is located a short distance west in nearby Brown County.
White Cloud is known chiefly for two large flea markets held there twice each year. Visiting vendors sell antiques and crafts in the otherwise vacant stores along its picturesque Main Street leading down to the Missouri River.
I was told any benefits to White Cloud or other communities from several Indian owned casinos located in that area are not apparent. A few Indian members of the various tribes do receive some income from the casinos but very few if any receive as much as they would from a regular job at a Wal-Mart.
On the other hand, the availability of gambling has caused a noticable increase in bankruptcies and addiction to gambling by local citizens.
Mr. Blink, somewhere in the archives of the Eagle you wil find an article about White Cloud, done by the fine folks at the Eagle. I do not know where you got your info, but the article and my own experiences there paint a totally different picture. Difference of opinion, I guess. The article is well worth the search. If you haven’t guessed by now we (wife and myself) whole-heartedly support expanded gambling in Kansas. However, we strongly believe that the state needs to stay out of it, other than taxes. That they need to be privately owned. Either by corporations, tribes, etc. And there need to be at least three of them, so they will have to compete with one another.
Justone, that’s a very good idea. I’ve been to Shreveport where thay have several casinos. From what I’ve read and my own experience, it doesn’t seem to have hurt them. Wouldn’t it be nice if the same people who want the government off our backs and smaller government would quit trying to legislate morals?
Gotta agree with justoneman and XXX. we do enjoy donating a bit to the casinos. What I don’t want is a monopoly casino or anything by the Indians. Been there, Lost there. I prefer cards of most any kind and I know the odds are not in my favor. Wife prefers the slots and I know they are programmable devices that will pay out as the House decides.It is entertaining and would be even better if it was closer. I just feel the monopoly that Knight is proposing and the BS phrase ‘Destination Casino’ is not the answer.At least three, not state owned and well controlled (i.e. no tribes) is my criteria.
Oh, yeah.Make sure Eagle tells both sides. There is a serious down side to them. Crime, bankruptcy and drunk driving are just a few.
Do not want to burst your self-righteous bubble Mr. Cody, but you do not have to have a casino to have the troubles you listed. I sincerely do not want to offend anyone, however when you look at the weekly murders, rapes, stabbings, shootings, thefts, drug busts, pornshop and strip joint troubles, etc., etc. that take place in and around Sedgewick county and Wichita in general it is very hard to take cries of moral outrage very seriously. Like I have said before, and truly believe, a casino or three might actually improve the Wichita area.
What moral outrage? Did you read both posts?My outrage is all the free publicity the Eagle gives the casinos with no mention of any negative side effects. We vote on gambling every election! The Eagle tells us which of our politicians is for and against gambling. Gambling candidates lose – so far! Only an all out campaign of distortions from the local media will change that.Like I said, a few HONEST casinos would save me a long trip. But without all the BS laws they came up with in KC, NO and Iowa. And the Indian casinos are worse because of the monopoly factor. Some are even DRY.
A dry casino? What would be the point of that? Half the reason I go to casinos is for the free booze.
Indian Casino between Ames and Cedar Rapids Iowa. It came as a great shock to me.HEY, WAIT A MINUTE! Where do you get free booze anymore????
Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Shrieveport
I thought the wholw point was to get government off our backs and out of our lives. If the majority wants casinos, why is our legislature dictating morals?
I think the majority don’t want casinos with all the petty laws that come with them such as:
Can only board every two hours.Have to provide ID to get the boarding pass.Have to use boarding pass to get more chips with a $500 limit every 2 hours.Gotta be in the water. Or at least pump water around the boat. Or building. Or outside the levees.Can’t give away booze.Hipocracy makes me ill.
Because, Paxton, the logical conclusion of “get gov’t off your back” is Baghdad. They have practically no enforcable laws.
How would you like to live there?
The wealthiest individuals in our society live in housing compounds that have strict “covenants” restricting what kind of roofing materials one can use, how high the walls can be, what kinds of vehicles can be parked in the driveway, what and how many flowers can be planted in the beds.
The stricter the convents, the more desirable the neighborhood.
But let gov’t try to improve people’s lives for everyone, and all of a sudden, it’s “big brother telling me how to live.”
Casinos were outlawed for many decades in this country, decades that the conservatives say were the good old days.
Casino gambling is one “freedom” we can live without, and live BETTER without.
{Because, Paxton, the logical conclusion of “get gov’t off your back” is Baghdad. They have practically no enforcable laws.
How would you like to live there?}
Gee Zeitgeist (or whoever you are today), Baghdad doesn’t seem a very good place to talk about living, considering your chances of dying seem pretty high. I don’t quite understand the leap to Baghdad from casinos, but what ever floats your boat.
Still, in previous posts, you decry having morals shoved down our throats. How does this differ when it comes to opposition to casinos? I can’t go to a casino because you’re morally opposed? Brings to mind the “H” word.
As has been said before, if you don’t like casinos, don’t patronize them.
I live close to the Kansas/Oklahoma border and enjoy going to the Oklahoma casinos with family and friends. It is an enjoyable night out. We take as much money with us as we would normally take for an evening of going to Wichita for dinner and a movie or show. ($50-100) We get to spend time with each other (yes, we sit next to each other at the machines or the tables) and often can spend 4-5 hours doing this. Rarely do we go to a casino to drink alcohol (the closest casino offering alcohol to us is Paradise casino, just this side of Stillwater, and the alcohol is not free). We don’t spend our bill money or our kids’ college money to do this. There are 3 couples in my group that go in different variations, or all together. We also get together to play cards, have picnics, barbecue, etc. Yes, gambling can be an addiction, but it doesn’t have to be. It is like every other potentially addictive activity out there (sex, drugs, alcohol) you have to know yourself and your own morals before you partake in the activity. Nothing government does is going to take the place of any one person’s moral compass, no matter if the compass is good or bad.