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"Cui bono?"
To whose benefit?
A proposed sports gaming bill announced last week by Oahu state Rep. John Mizuno has us pondering this ancient saying credited to the Roman statesman, Cicero. Who benefits from opening the door to legalized gambling in Hawaii?
Mizuno's bill proposes to allow the first, single standalone sportsbook and card room on Oahu. It would have a 10-year license and provide local gamblers a closer option for gaming than flying to Las Vegas or elsewhere. Reading Mizuno's quotes in The Maui News, it seemed the Oahu representative had all his talking points covered regarding why this is a good idea. Along with highlighting a few mitigation efforts to minimize negative social impacts, Mizuno cited all the money that local folks spend in Las Vegas to get their gambling rush. That money could be spent here, he said.
In the same article, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and Maui state Sen. Gil Keith-Agaran pumped the brakes on the gaming bill. Keith-Agaran said similar bills have come up before and not gone very far. Green said he would take a careful approach to gaming.
"I tend to be cautious about that because we are able to bring on adequate revenue straight through the tourism door rather than through the gaming door," Green said.
Their scrutiny is appreciated, for this bill goes far beyond a sportsbook and card room on Oahu. It represents the tip of an iceberg. Mizuno says if his bill passes, Hawaii gaming advocates are already looking to place a similar brick and mortar operation on a yet-to-be-determined neighbor island. One becomes two, two becomes four and so on. Once unleashed in Hawaii, legalized gambling is sure to expand in both breadth and scope.
The article stated the visitor industry has come out against gaming in Hawaii, correctly claiming it would slice the revenue pie in a way that detracts from restaurants, activities and shopping. That did not prevent every major Maui hotel built or renovated since the 1980s from hedging its bets. They all have ballrooms that can be easily converted into casinos. Next time you visit one, look for the electrical outlets in the floor where slot machines and gaming tables could be plugged in.
Hawaii has faced this crossroads before and has always chosen to take a pass on legalized gambling. As with any decision made on an island, Hawaii must not only ask how such an important decision affects its people now, but also seven generations down the line. Whether Mizuno likes it or not, there is no separating his card rooms from the precedent they will set.
Perhaps Cicero only presented half the equation. Not only must we consider who benefits from legalized gambling, but also who loses, who suffers. It is up to Hawaii legislators to decide if this bill makes our state a better place long term.