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Iowa Counties See Casinos as Lifeline

IOWA – As reported by the Des Moines Register: "Northwood-Kensett Principal Julie Lines wants more money for her school in the midst of declining enrollment and two years of staff cuts. Ottumwa laborer Richard Damm wants the chance at better jobs and more construction work.

"Latimer bakery owner Cathy Carlson and Emmetsburg car dealership owner Steve Finer have watched people move away from their northern Iowa communities, and they are desperately looking for a way to stop that trend.

"The hopes of thousands of Iowans are stacking up like a Christmas wish list as the Legislature continues a high-stakes debate over whether to expand gambling and allow additional casinos in the state.

"…Voters in five Iowa counties - Palo Alto, Worth, Black Hawk, Wapello and Franklin - have approved riverboat gambling in their areas. Webster County will vote Tuesday. If the Legislature allows more gambling licenses, each community would still need approval from the Racing and Gaming Commission to open a casino.

"…But gambling opponents warn that casinos aren't the Christmas trees that some people think they are. They say studies have shown increases in crime, abuse, divorces, bankruptcies and suicides in communities with gambling…"

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