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The Bush Standpoint on Gaming

1/7/2001

What does the future of US gaming hold as George W. Bush takes his place in the White House

Most Nevada and casino industry leaders have expressed their optimism that gaming will get fair treatment from a George W. Bush administration, despite the fact that the president-elect opposes gambling in his home state of Texas.

Governor Kenny Guinn, who was chairman of Bush's successful Nevada campaign, said the Texas governor believes in allowing states to exercise their own rights.

Although Bush attracted the industry's attention during the presidential campaign in March 1999, when he made strong anti-gaming remarks in a report critical of gambling in Texas, the gambling industry expressed their support for him both in financial and political terms in the recent election.
"To allow casino-style gambling to continue and spread in places where children play not only offends Texans who have not approved casino-style gambling in our state, but it also sends a terrible message to our children that gambling is OK," Bush said. He continued, "Casino gambling is not OK. It has ruined the lives of too many adults, and it can do the same thing to our children."

During his campaign, Bush attempted to ease Nevada concerns when he visited Lake Tahoe. He later received heavy financial support from the casino industry and ultimately won Nevada's four electoral votes in the close presidential race. At Lake Tahoe, Bush assured Guinn and top casino industry executives that he was not opposed to gambling in this state. According to Guinn, Bush said: "Look, my constituents in Texas didn't want gaming. And why should they when we have Las Vegas, which is the greatest place in the world for it.?

However, Senator Harry Reid, a close Gore friend, said just how well gaming fares under Bush will depend on how much he listens to the industry's critics within the religious right, which also supported his campaign. "I don't look for any hits to be given to us intentionally by Bush, but we have to watch who he's getting his advice from," said Reid, the Senate's assistant Democratic leader.

Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association was optimistic about the future of gaming from a presidential point of view. He felt that it made no difference whether Bush or Vice President Al Gore were president. He stated, ?Both believe in states rights?. Our battles are going to be in the House and Senate. They're not going to be in the White House."

Former Democratic Govenor Bob Miller warned that Bush's criticism of the gaming industry in Texas and the South does not bode well. Miller concluded, "The jury's out on how he's going to treat the gaming industry. Until we get to test the waters, we have no way of knowing exactly what he will do."

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