 "Photo: Chelsie Chung")
 "Photo: CHELSIE CHUNG")
Hawai‘i lawmakers have decided against opening gambling casinos in the Islands, but with a sunken national economy and a lack of jobs, perhaps the state should look into what positive effects gambling has to offer.
Hawai‘i relies heavily on its tourism, and while the state has seen a 2 percent increase in visitors this past January, a recovery has never been made since the 12.5 percent decrease in visitors after the January 2009 Lehman Brothers crash.
Financial concern and the ability to keep tourist numbers up still looms over the Islands. But instead of relying on sunny beaches and Don Ho songs to keep people attracted, Hawai‘i should consider one of two things: adding a casino, or revamping the tourist industry with money the state does not have.
With the mention of gambling comes many negative connotations. It brings to mind alcohol abuse and suicide, and the gambler who had to sell the family’s house because of their addiction. But casinos and casino-control commissions can in fact try to prevent this.
Instead of building multiple casinos, Hawai‘i should instead limit the number on each island to make it harder to throw money around. Hawai‘i may also choose to restrict alcohol consumption within the casino, or to limit the number of alcoholic beverages sold.
New Jersey provides free education to prevent gambling problems and treatment for gambling addiction.
Another issue with casinos are their flashing lights and attractive names, some that may interest children at an early age. But much like clubs where IDs are necessary to get in, entrance should be permitted only if the person can prove they are 21 years old.
If Hawai‘i were to legalize gambling, the state’s control on casinos will have to be tight in order to prevent public corruption. Yet, Hawai‘i being the only one of two states that outlaws any form of gambling gives it a family-friendly edge, though it may not be an edge appealing to the visitors who could choose places like California, Florida, Guam or Jamaica that offer similar appeal but better nightlife.
While I have heard people against legalizing gambling in Hawai‘i say that there should be a more creative way to bring money to the states, no actual ideas are given. What can be done, instead, is to be creative in a way that prevents gambling addictions in local residents, but still gains money from tourists.
According to the Associated Press, a casino would “bring $86 million a year in tax revenue to a state facing a project $1.2 billion deficit.”
Adding a casino will also create jobs, not only within the casino itself, but in the extra security, control commissions and gambling education.
A Chinese proverb says, “If you must play, decide upon three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time.” It is a philosophy that should be ingrained into our heads if legalized gambling is permitted here.
Until then, or until the state finds another way to create hundreds of millions of dollars and more jobs, Hawai‘i will continue to sit in the impoverished hole under the heated sun.
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