Minnesota coalition emerges against casinos

Ashley H. Grant

Wednesday, April 28, 2004 | 8:52 a.m.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- An anti-tax group and a coalition of religious groups joined forces Tuesday against casino proposals floating around the Capitol.

The Taxpayers League of Minnesota began airing more than $20,000 in radio ads that say the lure of easy money at casinos is "all a big lie."

And, the ad says, the costs to government far outweigh the benefits.

"How many times have you heard a case of embezzlement caused by gambling? Or check kiting? Or divorce? Or child abuse?"

The Joint Religious Legislative Coalition is urging its 8,000 members to contact their lawmakers and oppose new casinos.

The two groups point to a 1999 study by a University of Illinois professor that shows the costs of putting a casino in a community outweigh the benefits by $156 per capita.

The only benefit cited was $34 per capita for having a casino closer to non-problem gamblers. Among the $190 per person costs highlighted were $46 in crime and $27 in social services.

"We've sort of seen a runaway discussion here -- we're just trying to slow it down," David Strom, president of the Taxpayers League, said.

Brian Rusche, executive director of the religious coalition, called the social harms of having the state authorize a new casino "large" and "looming" and said it would set a dangerous precedent that could lead to other casinos in the future.

Several casino proposals are still in play at the Legislature. The three that have been discussed most often are private casinos at Canterbury Park or the Mall of America, or one that benefits the Red Lake and White Earth bands to be built in a northern Twin Cities suburb.

The GOP-led House already has passed the Canterbury plan, but it's faced a tougher time in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Sen. Dick Day, a Republican who strongly backs the proposal to put slot machines at the horse track, said it appears unlikely the bill will be able to get the 34 votes needed.

"I think it's very difficult for us," he said.