The Washington Post

Dear Editor,

Your recent editorial on Prince George’s County’s consideration of a bill to ban slot-machine gambling levels false criticism against the U.S. commercial casino industry. If the claims made in the article were true, the 22 states with commercial casinos would be centers of depravity instead of homes to successful communities that see casinos as valuable community partners.

Elected officials and civic leaders in U.S. gaming communities know the real impact of our business – with the benefit of hindsight, 75 percent say they would vote to allow casinos if they could do it all over again.

In fact, for an example one only has to revisit a Washington Post article from earlier this year that showcased the benefits The Casino at Ocean Downs has brought to Ocean City, Md. The advantages have been so significant and immediate that even the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, once a vociferous opponent of the casino, had a “real change of heart” after only nine months of casino operations.

Leaders in Ocean City haven’t seen the “devastating impacts” you claim casinos would bring.  Your readers are entitled to hear these facts.  Real experience speaks louder than baseless fear-mongering.

Sincerely,

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.

President and CEO

American Gaming Association