Column: Washington can't say no to gaming

Tuesday, May 30, 2006  

"In what may be just the latest example of state lawmakers closing the barn door after the horses have fled, a joint committee is studying the explosion of gambling in Washington state.

It's at least the third time lawmakers have pledged to slow down and take a comprehensive look at the issue. Each time the hand-wringing has been followed by more expansions.

In 1996, the net receipts from gambling _ that's the amount wagered minus prizes paid out _ was $476 million. In 2005, it was $1.7 billion.

In that time, nontribal minicasinos have jumped from $15 million to $302 million. Tribal gambling has increased from $50 million to $1.02 billion.

While legislators don't have much say over tribal gambling, their decisions about nontribal gambling and the lottery fuel the expansion of tribal casinos because the tribes use it as an excuse to get more and more."

Get the Story:
Peter Callaghan: Washington state must address its own gambling addiction (The Tacoma News Tribune 5/30)