Editorial: Some Nevada casinos asleep at the switch

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1998 | 1:50 a.m.

Proposition 5, the California Indian Self-Reliance Initiative, is gaining popularity. Latest polls show that voters favor it by 15 to 20 percentage points.

That could be a major blow to Nevada's No. 1 industry, especially if it leads to full-scale gaming. As a concerned Gov. Bob Miller said this week, "No matter how many more trips we take elsewhere to encourage tourism, it's not going to make up for the dropoff (from California)."

As the Sun's Jeff German reported Monday, Mirage Resorts, Circus Circus and Hilton Gaming have been leading the casinos' charge against Proposition 5. They have provided much of the funding.

However, many other gaming companies have not stepped up to the plate, even though they may be the bigger losers should Proposition 5 pass. The megaresorts likely will survive, but the others, especially smaller casinos, could be fatally wounded by a pronounced decrease in California customers.

The entire casino industry should be involved in fighting this initiative. At stake is its very survival.