Posted on: Thursday, February 14, 2002

$400,000 gambling study proposed

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Two state Senate committees yesterday approved a bill that would authorize a $400,000 study on the economic and social effects of gambling.

Some said such a study would put an end to conflicting claims about the impact of gambling, a controversial issue that has haunted the Legislature for years. Under Senate Bill 2922, the state auditor would hire an independent public policy research organization to conduct an objective study on the impact of gambling.

"If it ever comes up for a referendum or a vote here, then the public and the members here (would be) educated on this so they know what they're voting on," said Sen. Donna Kim, chairwoman of the Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, which approved the bill. "Maybe some of the things going on in the Mainland are not applicable to Hawai'i because we're an island state."

The Senate Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations Committee also voted to approve the measure, and the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on it today.

Legislation to legalize gambling appears dead in the Legislature this year. A House committee voted down bills authorizing casino gambling in certain locations, and Senate leaders say they don't plan on hearing any gambling bills.

Most of the public testimony submitted to the committees yesterday supported the study — so long as it is done by independent researchers with no ties to politics, the gambling industry or gambling opponents. Most who testified also oppose legalizing gambling; gambling lobbyists did not testify.

Some, however, said there are already enough studies about gambling's effects. "The economic and social impacts of gambling are well known," said Kat Brady, assistant executive director of Life of the Land, which opposes gambling.