Commission’s close will open gambling debate in Congress, states

Wednesday, June 2, 1999 | 9:38 a.m.

The proposed ban is one of the last unresolved issues as the National Gambling Impact Study Commission opened its final two days of meetings here today.

Commissioner Richard Leone, who opposed introducing casino gambling in Atlantic City, N.J., while state treasurer, wants states to emulate New Jersey's ban on political campaign donations by anybody in the gambling business.

The meetings today and Thursday will also represent the last chance for pro-gambling commissioners to change or remove a controversial sentence from the panel's draft report urging state and local governments to consider a moratorium on gambling expansion.

Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., president of the American Gaming Association, said the casino industry's chief goal this week will be defeating the idea of a ban on political contributions.

Though he opposes the report's use of the word "moratorium," Fahrenkopf said he supports the idea that state and local governments considering gambling should first "pause, make sure you have all the evidence on both sides, all the pros and cons, so you make an informed decision."

"I have no problem with that recommendation," he said.

The commission was going into its final meetings with dozens of recommendations already decided, including a nationwide minimum age of 21 to place bets, less aggressive state lottery advertising and more funding of programs to treat gambling addicts.

The commission cannot unilaterally impose any of its ideas. That will be up to Congress, the White House, state governors and tribal leaders, who will receive the commission's report later this month.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., whose district includes Las Vegas, said she expects "a rash of legislation" from gambling opponents in Congress. But "this is a state issue," she said. "If individual states don't want gaming or want to regulate gaming, they can do that."

Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., a gambling critic who sponsored legislation to create the commission, said he plans to introduce bills in line with commission recommendations.

On the state level, the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling plans to use the report as ammunition against the proliferation of video gambling in neighborhood stores and restaurants.

"In the year 2000, we're going to roll back 'convenience gambling' somewhere," said the group's spokesman, Bernard Horn.

Commissioner James Dobson, an opponent of gambling, said he has heard from state legislators and private citizens interested in using the report's findings in their fights against gambling.

Dobson, president of the conservative group Focus on the Family, said his greatest hope is that "the American people will begin to look at what gambling does (and) begin to recognize that it has a definite downside."

Fahrenkopf said the commission's report will focus needed attention and government resources on the problem of gambling addiction.

"But really, the vast majority of these regulations are aimed at governors and state legislators," he said. "And historically, state legislators resent people in Washington telling them what to do."