Florida Casino Gaming Deal Unfairly Critiqued by CitizenLink
CitizenLink, the webpage published by evangelical organization Focus on the Family, has criticized the casino gaming compact negotiated between Florida and the Seminole Tribe. The deal, which will bring Florida $150 million in the first year and as much as $234 million by year five, will be too costly socially, says the religious site.Despite months of tough negotiations resulting in a compact approved by both parties, including anti-gambling conservatives, CitizenLink frames the deal as reckless politics by Governor Charlie Crist.
"What it means for Florida is more bankruptcies, divorces, broken families, debt, suicide rates – all higher when gambling is higher," said John Stemberger, general counsel of the Florida Family Policy Council. Stemberger offered no proof for his observation, which is contradicted by statistics and testimony throughout the US.
Further, the new arrangement merely continues conditions basically as they are, while obtaining the tax money for the state where previously none was forthcoming.
"The Seminole casinos will operate as they have been for several years," says OCA gambling analyst Sherman Bradley. "They will offer blackjack and Las Vegas slots, while the rest of the state will not have table gaming, and only Broward and Dade will have Class III slots, just as now."
The difference, Bradley maintains, is that the tribe will now fund many state programs through the billion dollars due over the term of the contract.
"CitizenLink would rather abandon the politicians it normally supports rather than admit Florida has a win-win deal, that will create great revenues with virtually no increase in social costs. The fear of social damage due to casino proliferation has turned out to be unfounded, as Disney World is far more dangerous and crime-ridden than casino areas," concluded Bradley.
