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2008 Ballot: State Gambling Measure Results

 

Chad Hills [Updated: 11-05-2008]

Massachusetts, Ohio and Maine voters say "No" to more gambling. Arkansas, Colorado, Maryland and Missouri vote to expand gambling in 2008 state ballot measures.

2008 State Gambling Ballot Results:

Summary:

Gambling Expansion Measures

· Arkansas - Lottery (PASSED, 64%)

· Colorado - Gambling expansion; new funds to education (PASSED, 58%)

· Maine - New casino in Oxford County (FAILED, 55%)

· Maryland - 15,000 slot machines in five locations (PASSED, 58%)

· Missouri - Remove $500 loss limit; new funds to education (PASSED, 56%)

· Ohio - New large-scale casino (FAILED, 63%)

Gambling Reduction Measure

· Massachusetts - Greyhound Protection Act - prohibits (professional) dog racing at gambling facilities (PASSED 56%)

 

Gambling Measures - Already Voted:

Gambling Measure Summaries:

· Arkansas - Amendment 3 - Would legalize and establish a state lottery in Arkansas.

· Colorado - Amendment 50 - Would expand casino hours to 24/7 operations, expand bet limits 20-fold, expand casino control over gambling growth, expands gambling to include roulette and craps, cuts potential casino revenue to the state by half (from 40% to 20%) and transfers 78 percent of "new" revenue (between hours of 2AM and 8AM) to community colleges. 

· Maine - Question 2 - Would authorize a new casino in Oxford County, lower legal gambling age from 21 to 19, remove state limit on number of slot machines allowed,  legalizes Las Vegas-style gambling, creates a 10-year casino monopoly and allocates portions of casino revenue to fund education.

· Maryland - Question 2 - Would authorize the addition of 15,000 slot machines in five locations throughout Maryland (3,000 slots per location).

· Missouri - Prop A - Would remove the $500 loss limit, increase tax on casino revenues to 21 percent, allocates "new" revenues toward education, limits number of casinos to those being built and to existing casinos (creates a monopoly). 

· Ohio - Issue 6 - Introduces and authorizes large-scale, Las Vegas-style gambling in Ohio, allows one $600-million casino and mega-resort to be built in Clinton County, Ohio by Lakes Entertainment Inc, and tribal casino entrepreneur, Lyle Berman.

· Massachusetts - Question 3 (Greyhound Protection Act) - Would prohibit (professional) dog racing at gambling facilities based on cruelty and inhumane treatment of dogs. If passed, would likely close pari-mutuel betting facilities.

 

 

State-Specific Gambling Measures:

ARKANSAS - State Lottery Initiative - Amendment 3

[initiated constitutional amendment]

Summary: A Constitutional Amendment Authorizing the General Assembly to Establish, Operate and Regulate State Lotteries to Fund Scholarships and Grants for Arkansas Citizens Enrolled in Certified Two-Year and Four-Year Colleges and Universities in Arkansas.

[Full Text]

Support:

  • Hope for Arkansas 
  • Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter

Opposition:

COLORADO - Amendment 50

[Initiated constitutional amendment]

Summary:

  • Expands gambling to 24/7 operations (currently 18 hrs)
  • Expands bet limits 20-fold from $5 to $100
  • Expands gambling to include roulette and craps
  • Transfers control of gambling growth to casino towns
  • Limits maximum state tax on casinos at 20% rather than current maximum of 40%
  • Transfers 78% of "remaining" revenue (from expanded hours between 2AM and 8AM after other fees have been paid) to 13 community colleges - remaining 22% goes to gambling towns and counties

[Full Text]

Support:

  • Say Yes on 50!
  • Coloradans for Sensible Solutions (Katy Atkinson) 

Opposition:

MAINE - Casino in Oxford County

[Initiated state statute]

Summary: Would authorize Evergreen Mountain Enterprises / Olympia gaming to operate a casino in Oxford County. [Recently, Evergreen Mountain Enterprises or EME sold 75 percent ownership to Las Vegas Olympia Gaming when EME founder, Seth Carey of Rumford, ran into legal-ethics trouble. Read more in Forbes (10-6-2008). ]

  • Legalizes Las Vegas-style gambling (slots, table, roulette, etc.)
  • Removes state limit on number of slot machines allowed
  • Lowers minimum age to gamble on slots to 19 from 21 years of age
  • Evergreen Mountain Enterprises, LLC / Olympia Gaming must be the only casino operating for at least 10 years
  • Regulated by the Department of Safety, Gambling Control Board
  • Portions of casino revenue will fund student loans and other development

[Full Text]

Support:

  • Maine CasinoNow (replaced by Vote Yes on 2 for Maine)
  • Evergreen Mountain Enterprises
  • Vote Yes on 2 for Maine
  • Secretary of State, Seth Thomas Carey

Opposition:

MARYLAND - Question 2

[legislatively referred constitutional amendment]

Summary: Authorizes addition of 15,000 slot machines at five locations (or 3,000 slots per location).

[Full Text - on NCSL site: http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legismgt/elect/dbintro.htm]

Support:

Opposition:

MISSOURI - Removal of $500 Loss Limit - Prop A

[initiated state statute]

Summary:

  • Removes $500 loss limit
  • Increases tax on casino revenues to 21 percent
  • Allocates new revenues toward education
  • Limits number of casinos to those being built and to existing casinos

[Full Tex]

Support:

  • YES on A Coalition, formerly called the Yes for Schools First Coalition
  • Ameristar Casinos/Troy Stremming (VP Governmental Affairs, Ameristar and President of the Missouri Riverboat Gaming Association)

Opposition:

MASSACHUSETTS - Greyhound Protection Act - Question 3

[Initiated State Statute - reduction of gambling measure]

Summary: Prohibits (professional) dog racing at gambling locations based on cruelty and inhumane treatment of dogs.

[Full Text]

Support:

Opposition:

OHIO - New large-scale casino - Issue 6

Summary: The proposal would allow one $600 million stand-alone casino and mega-resort along I-71 between Cincinnati and Columbus in Chester Township, Clinton County, Ohio.

[Full Text]

Support:

  • My Ohio Now [Group run by Dr. Bradford Pressman, Rick A. Lertzman and Minnesota-based casino corporation, Lakes Entertainment Inc., and its Chief Executive, Lyle Berman.]    

Opposition:

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GAMBLING:

· National Gambling Impact Study Commission Homepage

· Research, Testimonies And Articles From The Experts

· Quick Facts: Gambling and Suicide

· Childhood and Adolescent Gambling

· Gambling and Bankruptcy

· Gambling and Organized Crime

· Gambling Availability and Addiction

· Gambling's Impact on Families

· The Impact of Racinos

· Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) and Electronic Gaming Devices

· Pastors: Speak From The Pulpit About Gambling Issues

· Biblical Stewardship Parables

· Focus on the Family Position Statement on Gambling

What Payoff Can You Expect From Gambling? (PDF print tri-fold handout)

 

 

Return to the Gambling Information homepage.

 

 

Last revised on 11-05-2008


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