Casino news from http://www.projo.com/
AS RHODE ISLANDERS prepare for the November ballot referendum on a proposed casino, there are many critical unanswered questions to consider. All we have been promised is that the proposed casino would allegedly create jobs and lower property taxes.
Despite the reassurance of our legislators that the details "will be worked out," 10 key issues need to be addressed by either Harrah's or the Narragansett Indian Tribe before the vote. To paraphrase Joseph Campbell, "He who thinks he knows, doesn't know. He who knows he doesn't know, knows."
Operations. Will this be the Harrah's Narragansett casino? If so, will the primary fiduciary obligation be to enrich the Harrah's shareholders? Or will this be the Narragansetts' Harrah's casino? If so, will the primary fiduciary obligation be to enrich the Narragansett tribal members? What will be the day-to-day role of the tribe in the operation of the casino?
Regulatory oversight. Who will oversee the casino's gambling operations, as Rhode Island does not have a Gambling Commission (the bill died in Senate committee this year)? Who will guarantee the "fairness" of gambling (machine payouts, etc.)? Who will perform background checks on casino employees? Who will maintain a list of "undesirable" patrons (persons excluded for cheating, vandalism, theft, etc.)? Will the casino offer "self-exclusion," the process by which a patron can request to be barred from the casino? Who will process and maintain the list?
Law enforcement. Who will have jurisdiction over the casino: local, state, or tribal police? What happens when self-excluded patrons attempt admission? Will they be ejected or charged with criminal trespass? How will "abandoned children" be provided for? How will on-site suicides be handled?
Liquor. What type of licenses(s) will the casino have? When will liquor be served? Will there be "complimentary drinks" for gambling patrons?
Responsible-gambling program. Who will train casino employees about problem gambling? Who will train casino supervisors and managers about problem gambling? What will be done to interdict underage gamblers? Will the casino offer a self-exclusion program for patrons? Will there be signs in the casino advertising the Rhode Island Problem Gambling Helpline and self-exclusion program?
Problem gambling. How much money will the casino contribute to address problem gambling? Will the money match or exceed the State of Rhode Island's expenditures to address problem gambling? Who will receive the money? How will the money be spent -- to treat problem gamblers, support prevention programs, or both? Will the casino fund a problem-gambling-prevalence study, to ascertain the level of problem gambling in Rhode Island?
Community relations. How much will the casino pledge to support community activities? What will the protocol be for community groups to make applications for funds?
Employee-assistance program. Will the casino provide a program to help its employees? Will it be available on site, off site, or only via phone?
Revenue sharing. Thus far, casino-revenue sharing proposals have addressed only slot-machine revenues; what about revenues from table games, food, rooms, conventions, entertainment, etc.? What will be the split on slot-machine revenue among the casino, the tribe, the machine operators, and the state?
Promotions. Will the casino provide complimentary bus service for the elderly only the first week of the month? Will the casino offer mail promotions for patrons? If so, how will self-excluded gamblers' names be purged from these lists?
We need to know the answers to these 10 questions to make informed choices as voters. The time is long overdue for Harrah's and the Narragansett Tribe to "put their cards on the table." Anything less is a "sucker's bet" -- for all parties involved.
Thomas Broffman, a Rhode Island resident, is assistant professor of social work at Eastern Connecticut State University.
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