Slot machines and blackjack dealers may be some of the things you think about when you hear Las Vegas, but soon you could see them in Jefferson City as well. On April 8, Capitol City residents will vote if they want to allow a riverboat casino in Jefferson City.
This isn’t the first time residents have made this decision. In 1992 the city chose to allow gambling to come to the area, but just three years later the decision was revoked.
Currently, article 15 of the city’s charter prohibits riverboat gambling, but at a city council meeting on December 3, 2007, councilman Kevin Brown brought up the issue once again. Six of the ten council members (Kevin Brown, Ken Ferguson, Mike Harvey, Dan Klindt, Ron Medin and Rich Koon) voted in favor of allowing the gambling propositions on the April ballot. Four council members (Brian Crane, Cindy Layton, Jim Penfold and Jane Smith) voted against it.
Because six of the council members gave the issue the go ahead, Jefferson City voters will see the issue in the form of Proposition B and Proposition C this spring. Proposition B amends the charter to allow gambling facilities, and Proposition C allows for licensing of gambling boats or floating facilities. Both will need to pass in order to bring a gambling boat to the city.
Jefferson City residents have heavily debated the issue since it first surfaced in December. The conflict centers between those who think the revenue brought in by a casino would be helpful to the community, and those who think bringing a casino will also bring problematic moral issues with it.
Resident Ed Storey is a member of a group called Citizens for Growth Without Taxation. He supports bringing a casino to Jefferson City.
“Jefferson City needs the money that can be derived from the casinos,” Storey said. “A casino could mean hundreds of new jobs.”
He also noted that Boonville, where the closest casino is located, has made about $4 million for city projects since the Isle of Capri casino was built. He hopes those revenues could be put towards sidewalks, streets, storm drain systems, and the fire law enforcement departments in the city.
But city council member Cindy Layton disagrees. While she acknowledges that the city does have a need for more money, she does not think gaming is the way to earn that money.
“As I understand the calculations set out by legislation, people would have to lose $50 million dollars in order for the city to benefit by $1 million,” Layton said.
Besides the loss it could mean for residents, Layton and fellow councilmember Jim Penfold say to depend on revenue from a casino is just bad public policy.
“My primary opposition stems from my belief that governmental reliance on gambling revenues for the support of essential services is bad public policy,” Layton said.
In the eyes of Layton and Penfold, to be dependent on gambling is a gamble in itself.
Others who oppose a casino in Jefferson City, such as members of the group Citizens Supporting Integrity, or CSI, cite morality as a key issue. The CSI website says “casino gambling undermines the core values of the community” because of the impact it could have on youth or those addicted to gambling. The website also lists several stories of places where morals were “jeopardized” by the entrance of gambling to their communities.
When asked about the morality issue, Storey pointed out that the state of Missouri has a gaming commission charged with regulating the industry on behalf of citizens. He added that only an estimated one to two percent of gamers are addicts, and the Missouri Gaming Commission allows people to enroll themselves in a voluntary exclusion program. If a person is a part of this program, and they are found in a Missouri casino, they will not be able to gamble.
Currently the Missouri Gaming Commission regulates 11 casinos in Missouri. They are located in Riverside, Kansas City, St. Louis, Booneville, St. Charles, Caruthersville, Maryland Heights, St. Joseph, and La Grange. The closest of these casinos to Jefferson City is the Isle of Capri in Boonville, 60 miles away.
For some, 60 miles is close enough, and they would rather distance themselves from the possible moral issues that could arise if a casino is brought to the area. Others think it is time Jefferson City took a larger share of state gaming revenues to help pay for improvements to the city. Both supporters and opponents of the propositions are passionate about their views and will be at the polls to cast their vote on April 8.
INFORMATIVE WEBSITES:
Missouri Gaming Commission
Citizens for Growth Without Taxation
Citizens Supporting Integrity
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