Indian Gaming

"Currently, state law simply dictates who makes the casino-generated money: tribes. And all the talk about casinos bringing harm instead of cash, from the governors on down, is largely a smokescreen. Yes, some individuals harm themselves with the assistance of a casino, just as they do with alcohol, drugs, bad partners and so on. A new casino would bring both harm and cash. Only time would tell which it brings more of.

But there is still a reason to vote against the measures, for better or worse. The governors got this right: Promises are important. Nine casinos operate in Oregon, all run by tribes. When Oregon's tribes were granted the right to build casinos, the tribes agreed to limit them to one per tribe with a kickback for communities, so long as private casinos were not allowed. They've kept their promise.

Should the state have made that promise? In hindsight, probably not. But it still needs to keep it or come up with a way to get tribes on board with altering the arrangement. Promises matter. "

Get the Story:
Elizabeth Hovde: Folding, for now, on a private casino in Oregon (The Oregonian 10/20)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Non-Indian casino bid a lost cause in Oregon this year (10/18)