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Message: <blockquote data-quote="tikkalover" data-source="post: 159788" data-attributes="member: 600">HCR 3033 could authorize up to 6 state-owned casinos in NDHouse Concurrent Resolution 3033 was in committee today. If the bill passes, up to six state-owned casinos could be authorized across the state.Those that spoke for the bill's passage said adding destination-oriented casinos would improve the economic development of rural parts of the state. As expected, this resolution was something some Native Americans were not in favor of.During the two hour judiciary meeting, there were just as many testimonies in opposition as there were in support. House Representative Al Carlson was the first to speak. Rep. Carlson: "We are not Las Vegas. We need to have a very controlled environment if we are going to do this. One big question alongside this proposal is how it could affect Native American communities. Mark Fox: "And you're going to find our reservation still struggling hard to try to establish themselves. And that one vehicle that has helped pull us out of that is now going to be reversed and diminished."Fox says he'd bet the state will profit, but at the expense of the Native American casinos.Mark Fox: "If the state expands gaming by passing this bill, if it goes into the arena of gaming, into a market that is already at equilibrium, and creates a saturation effect, you will gain revenue. But it's not without a cost.."While Native American communities are concerned about how this bill could take a hit to their economy, legislators are looking at the expected revenue. Sen. Carlson: "What happens to the money? The other one said 30% of the money, the revenue, would go to the community health trust fund, which by the way deals with a lot of mental health issues, it deals with a lot of the community health issues we deal with. And 70% of this would be used to go into our tax relief fund, which we already have established."Another concern brought to the table is the negative costs to those dealing with gambling addictionJon Jorgenson: "You'll be looking at more jail cells. You'll be looking at more law enforcement, which I know, people have brought up this question, how will that be paid for? Slots are the crack cocaine of gambling"This bill has a long road ahead, but if passed it'd come down to the voters decision in the 20-18 primary election. Some of the stipulations of this bill include the casinos being built at least 20 miles away from Indian land, and also being at least five miles away from towns with 5,000 or more in population.</blockquote>

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