Hello, Vegas
Wow. Lawyers for Lt. Gov. Bill Halter's pro-lottery committee filed to intervene in the lawsuit seeking to remove the state lottery amendment from the ballot. One notable argument addresses the contention that the amendment's description is insufficient because it could open the door to unforseen forms of gambling, casino-style even. The response, from this morning's D-G:
The attorneys for Hope for Arkansas said the proposed amendment would have no effect one way or the other on “casino gaming.”
“This is a classic red herring,” the filing said. “‘Casino gaming’ is prohibited by statute in Arkansas, not by the Constitution. Neither the existing constitutional prohibition on lotteries nor the proposed measure prohibit ‘casino gaming.’”
Wow. If this theory prevails, Katy bar the casino door. For decades, the legislature has operated under the belief that the anti-lottery prohibition in the Constitution was the rock upon which the state's casino ban was built. We have racinos at Oaklawn and Southland now, but only under the slim and untested reed that playing blackjack and poker and games suspiciously like roulette are games of skill, particularly if done by TV screen rather than by real cards.
Only a legislative vote stands between the Oaklawn and Southland racinos and full-bore monopoly casinos? Or, for that matter, casinos anywhere else the legislature would like to put them? Wow. I probably should mention that this means the state lottery could just as easily morph into a state casino by their argument. Remember, a vote of the legislature will be required to enable the lottery, in whatever form it takes.
Comments
Meanwhile Missouri our northern border state has enjoyed an education lottery since 1986 and still has no state sanctioned casinos. Okla has casinos because of Native American rights, not by operation of their state lottery.
In other news Arkansas remains the State with the lowest number of college graduates.
.
Posted by: eLwood![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
|
September 23, 2008 09:06 AM
The Oaklawn people have wanted everyone to think casino gambling was forbidden by the constitution and not by law. It's not. The legislature has the power to change the laws that forbid casino gambling. They don't want people to know that though. It amazes me that so many "smart" people have fallen for the lie.
Posted by: eark![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
|
September 23, 2008 09:37 AM
The Easter bunny is not real children.
Posted by: eark![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
|
September 23, 2008 09:41 AM
I don't know what you call the casinos in the Saint Louis area. State sanctioned or not, they do exist in MO.
Posted by: Eureka Springs, AR![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
|
September 23, 2008 12:12 PM
The idiots in Little Rock won't state recognize any Native American Tribes because they are afraid they might want to put in Casino's.Casino's also bring in revenue that Arkansas needs.Native American's are smart in wanting casino's.They know the kind of money they make.Arkansas is doomed to be the poorest state in the union because of no caring do gooders that moved in here from other states and wants Arkansas to stay a back woods state.They don't want any of the things to come into Arkansas that might help it to grow into a state thats up with the times.The real people of Arkansas are the ones that need to be heard. They are the ones that want Arkansas to matter.They are the ones that care about our state.The outsiders needs to keep their damn mouths shut or go back to wherever they came from.
Posted by: chatterbug![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
|
September 27, 2008 02:16 AM