Casino in Waikiki: Is it time for one?

[Frankie's Market]

For decades now, insufferable moralists and state lawmakers enamoured by the VIP treatment they enjoyed at Sam Boyd's have resisted bringing any form of legalized gaming to Hawaii. Never mind that millions of local dollars were being poured into Vegas every year. Never mind that underground gaming and bookmaking outfits were operating in the islands, with not a cent being paid in licenses or taxes.

But with the state facing a dire budgetary situation leading to Furlough Fridays, cutbacks in school busing, reduction/elimination of many social services, etc., lawmakers have no choice but to confront the pink elephant in the room. Should the legislature legalize gambling?

KHON

[Kaonohi]

Re: Casino in Waikiki: Is it time for one?

I'd prefer a state lottery to casino gambling.
I've lived in Nevada as well as close by (Sacramento) and enjoyed occasional gambling myself, but I don't think I'd like it here.

Yes there is underground gambling here, but I think it is mostly small-scale. A larger operation would impact more people (especially gambling addicts who can't afford it), and may tend to attract organized crime on a larger scale than we already have.

Once, in Carson City, in a very swanky casino (which I considered a respectable place), I observed what seemed to be a very obvious pay-off. We were at a roulette table and a man and women came up with a pile of chips, placing it on one of the rows. They won, and moved all their chips to another row, and won. This happened about 2 or 3 more times, and just when I was about to follow their lead they picked up a huge pile of chips, looked around (kinda shifty-eyed) and left. The dealer never blinked an eye.
Of course I could be wrong....

[tutusue]

Re: Casino in Waikiki: Is it time for one?

I'd prefer a state lottery to casino gambling.
[...] and may tend to attract organized crime on a larger scale than we already have.[...]

I, too, would prefer a lottery. The biggest concern I've heard about casinos in Hawaii is the anticipated increase in organized crime. Regardless, we're damned if we do and we're damned if we don't.

[matapule]

Re: Casino in Waikiki: Is it time for one?

As everyone knows, California Indian tribes are allowed to have legal gambling in California. It has proven very profitable for them. There have been some problems (about amount of taxes collected by the State) but no organized crime . Research has shown that those people who cannot afford to gamble would find some other illegal way to do it even if the casinos weren't there.

I am not voting in the poll since I am not a Hawaiian resident and don't have a vested interest. If I were, I would vote yes, if ethnic Hawaiians had the concession and paid the State hefty taxes.

I don't gamble myself or participate in lotteries, and along with smoking, it is against my religion. I am going to buy a ticket in the Super Bowl pot next Sunday at Bruce and Jill's casa. If I win (which I am), I'll donate to charity.

[Ron Whitfield]

Baby needs a new pair o shoes!

Gambling is overdue, but why is the poll Waikiki or nothing?
I'd prefer it outside of Waikiki, they'll just want to build a whole 'nuther skyrise for it, and most gamblers don't live in town anyway.

A lottery is a waste of money, except for the lucky few. I'm a BlackJack winner and could retire completely if they had a table.

[Kimo]

Re: Casino in Waikiki: Is it time for one?

Waikiki may have come up because of the interview with Calvin Say in the paper (forget which one) in which he suggested a one only casino in Waikiki.

[Frankie's Market]

Re: Baby needs a new pair o shoes!

Gambling is overdue, but why is the poll Waikiki or nothing?

Because that is the proposal (HB 2396) in front of the legislature now. A standalone casino in Waikiki. Not shipboard gaming. Not a hotel/casino in the boondocks. And no, not a lottery.

[Walkoff Balk]

Re: Casino in Waikiki: Is it time for one?

Vegas is a meeting place with relatives on the mainland. There might be better deals and comps offered for Hawaii gamblers from LV hotels and casinos as result of a casino in Waikiki.

[Kaonohi]

Re: Casino in Waikiki: Is it time for one?

Waikiki may have come up because of the interview with Calvin Say in the paper (forget which one) in which he suggested a one only casino in Waikiki.

I assume this is the SAME Calvin Say who blocked the vote on equal rights for domestric partnerhips?

Do we get to vote his ass out of office for incompetence?

K?

[TuNnL]

These are our leaders?!

Gambling is overdue, but why is the poll Waikiki or nothing?

Because that is the proposal (HB 2396) in front of the legislature now. A standalone casino in Waikiki. Not shipboard gaming. Not a hotel/casino in the boondocks. And no, not a lottery.

And that is precisely why I voted no in this poll. I wholeheartedly support shipboard gambling, as a way to revitalize the cruise industry, and control and isolate gambling to a single venue being offered to individuals that more or less can afford it, and in a way that can reasonably be controlled.

A standalone casino in Waikīkī? That’s just dumb. If you want trouble in paradise, this is precisely the way to introduce it (as if HPD didn’t already have their hands full in tourist town).

[Frankie's Market]

Re: Casino in Waikiki: Is it time for one?

As everyone knows, California Indian tribes are allowed to have legal gambling in California. It has proven very profitable for them. There have been some problems (about amount of taxes collected by the State) but no organized crime.

Yep. With legalized gambling, there's gaming commissions that will regulate the casinos. Nevada provides a good example of a state where a gaming control board and law enforcement worked together during the 1980s to banish the Midwest mobsters who were using the Vegas casinos to skim and launder untold sums of money.

With illegal casinos, there's obviously no regulation, which makes those operations ripe for all kinds of criminal activity. And make no mistake! Such illegal gambling dens are out there, folks. Closing one's eyes to their existence does not make them any less real.

Research has shown that those people who cannot afford to gamble would find some other illegal way to do it even if the casinos weren't there.

Sadly, this is also true. So many people in Hawaii with chronic gambling addictions, despite being in dire financial straits. Perfect example: Cyrus Belt's mother, losing her shirt in Chinatown and trying to cover her losses with a shoplifting spree at Ala Moana. All the while, not having a care in the world about what was happening with her baby boy.

It's so nice to pretend that the lack of legalized gambling here shields the people of Hawaii from the ill effects of gambling. But who's kidding who here?

[Amati]

Re: Casino in Waikiki: Is it time for one?

As everyone knows, California Indian tribes are allowed to have legal gambling in California. It has proven very profitable for them. There have been some problems (about amount of taxes collected by the State) but no organized crime .

Recently, I had a discussion with a friend who lives in California. They mentioned that Indian casinos have had problems with organized crime. I don't want to spend a lot of time on researching this, but a fast google found this article:

http://www.library.ca.gov/CRB/97/03/Chapt11.html

The Role of Organized Crime and Indian Gaming has Been a Controversial One. As noted in the section on Indian gaming, the charge that Indian gaming has been infiltrated by organized crime has been made. Competitors and antigambling interests use that charge as an attack on Indian gaming. Some researchers and industry observers are quick to point out that, however, there is no evidence that organized crime has significantly infiltrated Indian gambling operations. Others counter that inadequate regulation and oversight make it harder to find evidence. But there is ample evidence of attempts, some of which have met with success.

Hawaii already has problems enough with its own organized crime. I'd not want to invite even more by bringing in legalized gambling. Also, the amount of taxes collected could be way less than the amount of money that flowed out of the pockets of our residents. It would take some realistic studies which proved that gambling would actually benefit our Hawaii society before I'd jump on the bandwagon of support.

[scrivener]

Re: Casino in Waikiki: Is it time for one?

I think gambling is an unsavory thing and I'd prefer not to see it in my homestate, but the truth is that anyone who works for his or her money should be allowed to decide for him- or herself what to do with it. Among consenting adults in games of chance, there is an acknowledged risk and there is an acknowledged "house always wins" expectation.

Who am I to tell someone what to do with a hundred bucks?

This is one of those situations where I am against something in practice but in favor of it in theory. Because I can't think of one way a casino (or a hundred of them) impinges on my rights as a citizen, I say we have to allow them.

[808shooter]

Re: Casino in Waikiki: Is it time for one?

what the hell. we need the tourist dollahs.

make um like monte carlo where the locals no can go. not in waikiki though. already too crowded. make um in kewalos or something and spread out the congestion a little.

[Amati]

Re: Casino in Waikiki: Is it time for one?

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessio...ls/HB2396_.pdf [Page 75]
The bill (PDF version) indictates that it was introduced "by request". This means that it was at the request of a constituent, not a piece of legislation developed by the legislator.

So, I wonder who was behind this request?

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100131_Say_what.html
"Say also has introduced a bill to permit a casino in Waikiki (HB 2396), but he doubts that it could be enacted in time to help ease this year's budget crisis. "I introduced it for discussion purposes because I don't want to be criticized that we didn't explore all options," Say said, adding that even if the controversial measure passed, it would take years to raise money."

It does not sound to me like Rep. Say is actually all that invested in the concept of legalized gambling for Hawaii.