Letters to the Editor
The Baltimore Sun
P.O. Box 1377
Baltimore, MD 21278—0001

Dear Editor:

It is quite apparent from your May 27 editorial, “Gambling on U.S. Gambling Panel,” that your newspaper views the new National Gambling Impact Study Commission as a waste of time and consisting of inappropriate members. That is your prerogative, but if, in fact, you had reviewed the legislation regarding the Commission appointments, you would know that the legislative objectives have been met with regard to those chosen to serve on the Commission.

The legislation actually called for varying views to be represented in the nine members of the Commission — those in favor, those opposed and those neutral to gaming. It was never intended to be organized like a jury of nine members who had no knowledge of the topic to be studied. In fact, the legislation states that “the members of the Commission shall be individuals who have knowledge or expertise, whether by experience or training, in matters to be studied by the commission … The members may be from the public or private sector, and may include Federal, state, local, or Native American tribal officers or employees, members of academia, non—profit organizations, or industry, or other interested individuals.”

For the record, the American Gaming Association has always been in favor of a commission to conduct a balanced study of the industry. What we did oppose was Frank Wolf’s original bill for a commission that sought to study only the negative impacts of gaming. Fortunately, the final bill that passed in both the Senate and the House and was signed into law by President Clinton in August 1996 provides for a fair, balanced and unbiased review of the impacts of gaming throughout the United States.

The gaming entertainment industry employs more than one million men and women in this country. These are good—paying jobs (the average wage is $26,000), many of them in economically—distressed areas, offering opportunity to people who have had little hope in many years. These people would probably not appreciate or agree with your assessment that this study is an “embarrassment” or a “waste of time.” This is their livelihood at stake, and it puts food on their tables and roofs over their heads.

This Commission will study various aspects of gaming, including: the relationship between gambling and crime; problem gambling and its impact on families and the economy; the role of advertising in promoting gambling; Native American gaming; and gambling on the Internet.

The Commission’s findings will be utilized to educate states and localities that are considering whether or not to bring gaming to a community or to expand existing facilities. Gaming may not be right for every community — it is not a magic economic silver bullet; however, if made part of a carefully—crafted economic development plan, gaming can help revitalize communities and allow them to prosper. In making these decisions, however, it is vital for voters and their elected representatives to have the facts before them, which is what the Commission has been tasked to do. To me, that hardly seems like a waste of time.

Sincerely,

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
President & CEO
American Gaming Association