Gambling Would Be Winning Bet

I just returned from Singapore where it just opened its first casino and expects to open a second soon. Like Hawaii, Singapore is another gateway into Asia for business and tourists. A few years ago when its tourism base began to slide, it, too, weighed the pros and cons, took a gamble and finally decided to try it.

Charging a per entry fee of $100, the new hotel and surrounding hotels were booked months before it opened, and the grand opening attracted a crowd that filled the casino, with long lines waiting to get in.

I am sure that our local Las Vegas diehards would pay $100 instead of the airfare to Las Vegas, and all that money would stay here. It also would be a good bet that our tourism rate would increase.

Gambling has been around long enough that, if done right, it would make Hawaii a new destination and improve our quality of life — jobs, education, water, parks, sewer, roads and government services — by the monies the state and city would collect. A portion could help pay off mass transit early, in new revenue.

It is a win-win situation and would give Hawaii something new to attract the elusive tourist dollar, the lifeblood of Hawaii's economy. You can only market the sun, surf and beach so long before it gets old and something new is needed to make Hawaii an attractive destination. The benefits far outweigh the potential problems and would be a winning bet.

Robert Rock
Honolulu

Replies

Tane March 5, 2010 at 3:38am

I tend to agree. Abandon the Las Vegas-style mentality and see how other countries around the world handle their system. Monaco is reliant on their casinos and in Europe they have another way of running theirs. It's not all glitzie and crass. Seeing pitfalls; there are ways to circumvent them. That's the gist of it.

I'm not for it or against it; but there is caution for outside interests to come into Hawai'i and own, control, or open their own casinos in here. Total control has to be with Hawai'i to find the right niche and operate.
- Pomaikaiokalani > Tane March 6, 2010 at 12:49pm
  
  I believe that Gaming on Hawaiian Lands will open the doors for our people in many ways. Since the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, the administration of the Act has failed the native Hawaiian community. The days of leasing Hawaiian Homes Trust Lands for $1.00 should be over and of the past. Gaming on Hawaiian Lands is long over due. The issue of Gaming on Hawaiian Lands rest with the native Hawaiian community to say, Yes, No. A Yes will set the native Hawaiian community Free to decide their future on their Trust Lands. Long Live The Hawaiian Kingdom, o Pomai

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