Posted on: Tuesday, January 14, 2003

EDITORIAL
Gambling again? Let's not even go there

Each new legislative session draws a fleet of entrepreneurs to Hawai'i who want to crack the Aloha State's ban on gambling.

These lobbyists are typically deft at presenting gambling as a sensible means to save Hawai'i from its economic woes, and have no qualms about implying that those who reject, say, a state lottery to help the schools, must be anti-education.

So we're relieved to see the vast majority of this year's lawmakers aren't falling for the rhetoric. In an Advertiser survey of 76 state representatives and senators, nearly all said they were opposed to the legalization of casino and shipboard gambling or a lottery.

Of course, that doesn't mean the industry's salesmen won't be knocking at the doors at the state Capitol and making slick presentations.

For example, an education lottery sounds like a great tax-free way to raise money for education. But in many cases, less that half the money raised ends up going to the schools. And those who buy the lottery tickets aren't always the ones who can afford it.

Studies have found that poverty drives up lottery sales, and that poor people and minorities spend more of their income on lottery tickets.

In light of that, we ask lawmakers to expend as little energy as possible entertaining various gambling schemes. The last thing those hit hard financially need are a bunch of false dreams about hitting the jackpot.