Lawmakers Kill Casino Gambling Proposals In Hawaii

Hawaii and Utah are the only two states in the US that do not allow any form of legalized gambling. With two casino proposals on the table, Hawaii could have left Utah as the lone state without gambling. That will not happen this legislative session.

Lawmakers killed the casino plans on Wednesday night, claiming that the overwhelming negative public response to a casino was the deciding factor. The state House Finance Committee is where the proposals died.

"You've got to know when to hold'em. You've got to know when to fold'em. You have to know when to walk away," said Representative Marcus Oshiro, Chairman of the House Finance Committee, "And in this case, with the hand that we were dealt, it didn't make any sense moving ahead."

House lawmakers moved the two proposals along through preliminary committee hearings as a way to ensure that lawmakers were able to fully examine the casino issue. Even the lawmakers that agreed with adding a casino knew they were up against tough odds of getting a gambling Bill passed.

Among those groups that opposed the new form of gambling were social service providers, law enforcement officials, religious groups and business leaders in the community. It was an uphill battle that now will have to wait until at least next session before it is revived.

Many US states have turned to casino gambling to help with severe budget deficits that have been caused by the economic recession. Casino gambling is more prevalent now in the US than at any other time in the country's history.

February 25, 2010
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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