Alaskan Gaming Commission May Bring Changes in Casino Laws
Alaska is a state used to being in the background, ignored if not forgotten. Recently, however, that has largely changed. Ted Stevens' corruption case, along with Barack Obama's aggressive campaigning, have made the state a political battleground in the Presidential election. And now, Alaska has become the latest state to debate gambling laws, with national precedents being decided.
After years of legislative logjams over issues involving gambling expansion, a citizens' group called Alaskans for Gaming Reform has pushed onto the ballot an initiative that would create a Gaming Commission as part of the state Department of Revenue.
The Gaming Commission, if the measure passes, would be a seven-man committee, appointed by the governor with legislative approval. Five members would vote. The group would have the authority to regulate gambling, increase gambling venues, and change or add games to the legal list.
The general consensus is that this will bypass the gridlock suffered in the capitol, and allow new games and venues to be added, profiting the state and giving greater flexibility to the consumer.
Yet, once again, a myopic, misnamed group opposes the measure. The so-called American Family Council cites the social costs of gambling as reason to reject the proposition. The only problem is that these costs, such as increased crime, increased problem gambling, and jumps in suicide and domestic violence rates, are unfounded in any scientific evidence.
The only increases in these areas due to casino location, as found in objective scientific studies, has been an increase parallel to rise in population of the area. Yet, the scare tactics and assertions of untested "truths" continues.
It is to be hoped that the voters of Alaska reject the lies of groups which award themselves the family mantle, and pass this measure for the good of the state.
