"The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino is preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary this year after opening in April 1999.

Since 2003, the combined contributions from the gaming enterprises total $49.1 million.

Some people disdain gambling as a revenue source on moral grounds. Opponents say gambling doesn't encourage anything worthwhile and instead condones and even promotes sloth while giving the needy false hope of instant prosperity.

Countering this criticism is that such righteous entities as New York state (the lottery and horse racing) and the Catholic Church (bingo) derive significant revenue from gambling enterprises.

Without trying to referee that debate, we will observe that the amounts of money turned over to the Akwesasne community from proceeds of the casino are enormous. We wonder what the community would be like without that revenue.

Unless somebody has a better idea, Akwesasne would be unrealistic and downright foolish to try to survive without it."

Get the Story:
EDITORIAL: Casino a godsend for Akwesasne (The Plattsburgh Press-Republican 1/9)