"Members of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians are exploring the idea of lowering the casino gambling age from 21 down to 19.

This is a plan which could bring more troubles than benefits to the tribe and community.

The tribe has reason to consider the change.

-- Opening the doors to a younger crowd potentially means more gamblers and therefore more income for the tribe's struggling casino operations.

-- Restricting the age to 21-and-above also ignores the fact that young men and women as young as 18 are considered old enough to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

-- A 21-and-over rule at the casino makes little sense when our state not only sanctions, but encourages, gambling as a revenue source for public schools. There are so many scratch-off, pull-tab, keno, daily and jumbo lottery gambling opportunities available to anyone 18 years and older in our state that it would be impossible to place your bets on them all."

Get the Story:
Editorial: 21 is young enough to play at casino (The Petoskey News-Review 10/15)

Related Stories:
IPR: Little Traverse Bay Bands might lower gambling age to 19 (10/6)
Little Traverse Bay Bands debates lowering gambling age to 19 (10/1)