Posted on: Monday, April 16, 2001

Shelving gambling study right thing to do

A proposed study on the social and economic impacts of gambling in Hawai'i would have done little other than keep the conversation going on this ill-timed and unnecessary idea.

Thus it is good news that the state Senate has dropped plans for such a study.

There have been endless studies on gambling at both the local and national levels. They all come to pretty much the same conclusion: Yes, there are people who enjoy gaming. Yes, it is possible to generate some tax revenue from casinos or other forms of gambling.

Yes, some tourists travel precisely for the purpose of gambling so it would help to offer this "attraction."

But the downsides far outweigh the pluses. Setting aside any of the moral or philosophical arguments against gambling, it is still a bad bet for Hawai'i. We have a unique marketing advantage in that we are just about the only tropical resort destination that does not offer this attraction. And even if we allowed gambling in the Islands, the money spent there would largely come at the expense of other attractions and options for visitors.

No study was needed to know that.