© 2024 WRVO Public Media
NPR News for Central New York
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Opposition to gambling amendment heats up

Another anti-gambling group has released a study debunking Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state legislature’s claims about the benefits of permitting more casino gambling in New York.  So far opponents have been more vocal than supporters about the November 5 ballot referendum.

David Blankenhorn runs the national think tank The Institute for American Values. He’s been conducting a study looking at claims made by Cuomo and the legislature about the benefits New Yorkers could reap by permitting up to seven new gambling casinos in New York state. Supporters of the amendment say the plan for four new casinos upstate could spur $1 billion in economic development. Blankenhorn says that number comes from a lobby group -- the New York Gaming Association -- not independent studies, and he predicts that the opposite will occur.

“There’s not a single independent study that shows casinos contribute to economic growth,” said Blankenhorn. “Because they don’t create anything of value and they divert energy, time and money from the productive to the non-productive sectors of society.”

Blankenhorn also disputes claims that the casinos will be resort destinations. He says most casinos outside Las Vegas or Atlantic City attract people who live within a 75-mile radius. He says the regional casinos disproportionately attract the poorest in society, retirees and low-wage workers, who may have the least disposable income to spend on slot machines.

“The very people who we need to be helping to gain ground in society, instead of preying upon them in this way,” he said.

Blankenhorn claims there’s only one reason that Cuomo and the legislature want the gambling expansion.

“Money,” he said. “This is about money for the government. It’s about money that the politicians don’t have to call a tax.”

Under the terms of the legislation accompanying the change to New York’s constitution, the state and surrounding local governments would reap potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax payments from the casinos.

Cuomo, who championed the casino bills in the legislature, says the argument about the merits of gambling and whether more should be allowed in New York is really over. He says there are already casinos within driving distance of most New Yorkers. The constitutional change would mean that the state more directly benefits. Cuomo predicts if people know the facts, then they will support the amendment.

“It’s not really gambling versus no gambling,” Cuomo said. “We already have gambling, we just don’t call it gambling. We have casinos, we call them racinos.”

Racinos are located at many of the state’s horse racing tracks and feature virtual slot machines run through the state lottery division.

“I think it passes,” Cuomo predicted. “But it’s a sophisticated argument, no doubt.”

Cuomo has not detailed any specific plans for promoting the referendum, though he says he won’t be silent.

“I’ll be working to pass the referendum,” Cuomo said. “And then it’s going to be up to the voters.”   

Blankenhorn and other groups admit they have no money to spend on television ads, though they do plan to release some videos on the Internet. He says they do want to foster more discussion of the issue.

Pro-gambling forces have so far done little publicly to back the referendum. No gambling conglomerates who might be interested in operating the new casinos have come forward with TV ads or any other promotions. 

Karen DeWitt is Capitol Bureau Chief for New York State Public Radio, a network of 10 public radio stations in New York State. She has covered state government and politics for the network since 1990.