Gambling on Tribal Lands. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
	Argument Against Proposition 1A

Arguments on this page are the opinions of the authors and have not been checked for accuracy by any official agency.

Proposition 1A and the Governor's compact with gambling tribes will trigger a massive explosion of gambling in California.

Supporters call it a "modest" increase. Let's see just how "modest."

• Allows 214 casinos, TWO for every tribe.
• Slot machines in California could jump to some 50,000-100,000.
• In 2003, tribes can negotiate another increase.
• Slot machines provide 80% of all casino revenues.
• 18-year-olds are not prohibited from casino gambling.
• Legalizes Nevada-style card games not allowed in California.
• Indian casinos will pay no state or federal corporation taxes.
• Felons can be hired to run tribal casinos.
• Local governments and citizens get no input on size or location.

Casinos won't be limited to remote locations. Indian tribes are already buying up prime property for casinos in our towns and cities. And they're bringing in Nevada gambling interests to build and run their casinos.

Now California card clubs and racetracks are demanding the right to expand their gambling to keep pace: telephone and computer betting from home, slot machines, blackjack and more. If 1A passes, they'll be next in line.

This is our last, best chance to avoid the Golden State becoming the casino state. Vote no on Proposition 1A.

BRUCE THOMPSON
Member, California State Assembly

A report funded by Congress reveals there are 5.5 million adult pathological or problem gamblers in this country, with another 15 million "at risk." About 700,000 pathological and problem gamblers live in California, with another 1.8 million "at risk." That doesn't include a large number of teenage gamblers.

Experts tell us "Pathological gamblers engage in destructive behaviors, commit crimes, run up large debts, damage relationships with family and friends, and they kill themselves."

Proposition 1A would dramatically increase--probably double--this seriously troubled population by legalizing perhaps 50,000 to 100,000 slot machines, including interactive video games, the "crack cocaine" of gambling. These video slot machines very rapidly turn potential problem gamblers into pathological ones, warn treatment professionals.

California taxpayers will pay many millions in law enforcement costs and in health and welfare aid to troubled gamblers and their families.

Proposition 1A makes us another Nevada, virtually overnight. Do we really want that?

LEO McCARTHY
Former Lieutenant Governor of California

Addiction isn't something we like to talk about. It's a silent disease that devastates your family, ruins friendships and destroys you personally and financially. Like hundreds of thousands of women, I know from bitter experience the dark side of gambling.

I know that the closer the opportunity to gamble is, the easier it is, the more likely you are to fall into its trap. This isn't about chances in a church drawing. It's about losing your house payment, rent money or child's college fund, and lying and cheating to get more so you can try to win it back. It's about bankruptcy, divorce, domestic violence and suicide.

Proposition 1A puts gambling casinos right in everyone's backyard, where they could profit from $1 billion to $3 billion per year, much of it from weak and vulnerable gambling addicts.

I know. I was one. Please, vote NO on 1A.

MELANIE MORGAN
Recovering Gambling Addict

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