Editorial: Gaming at Cherokee smoke shops a bad idea

Wednesday, June 3, 2009  

"We hope the Cherokee Nation doesn't decide to allow smoke shops to bring in gambling machines.

The tribe's Council is talking about a proposal to allow gambling machines and alcohol sales at tribal smoke shops, which are operated under license on tribal trust land.

The idea is just in the discussion stage, but we hope it doesn't go any further.

As the number of tribal casinos in our community has skyrocketed, so have the troubles associated with problem gambling. Putting slot machines into smoke shops would only aggravate those problems — and put the smoke shops in competition with the tribe's own casinos.

Large tribal casinos generate jobs, economic activity and tourism. We wouldn't anticipate any of those advantages coming with gaming in smoke shops. We also have a greater sense that gambling operations will be supervised and controlled in the casino setting."

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Editorial: Bad idea (The Tulsa World 6/3)