Welcome back, legislators.
The year may have changed but the session remains the same and so do many of the issues facing the Delaware General Assembly.
Besides dealing with the obvious budget debacle that will ensue throughout this session, our representation will be faced with difficult choices, protests from affected parties and unpopular decisions.
One hot topic the legislature wrestled with in 2009 was gambling, and legalizing table games like poker, blackjack and more likely will be at the top of the list this year. Coupled with that is the issue of adding more gaming venues to the First State.
While the two have a major commonality — gambling — they are, indeed, completely separate issues and need to be treated as such.
The state government would be remiss to not pass table game legislation since some games already exist in the three racinos in video-simulated play. There isn’t much difference between the video and live-action games, although many will argue the latter is more fair and interesting to the gambler.
At least having live dealers would give people jobs and possibly attract more serious gamblers who may be wary of the video games.
And with Gov. Ed Rendell putting the final signature on Pennsylvania’s table games law, Delaware casinos would certainly lose business without it.
The question remains, however, do we need more places in which to place our bets? No.
Although a study commissioned by the state says we can garner 25% more gambling revenue by adding two more casinos to the mix, don’t ignore the 12% losses Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, Harrington Raceway and Delaware Park would face. Jobs certainly would be the first to go, maybe even the jobs of those newly-hired table game dealers.
We may feel larger than life with a longtime senator serving as the country’s vice president and legalized football betting (parlay-style, of course), but Delaware remains a tiny, tiny state. In a little more than two hours, one can drive from Delmar or Selbyville in the south to Hockessin in the north, passing three existing venues along the way, plenty of space for Delawareans, vacationers and day-trippers.
I’d hate for the First State to become so reliant on gambling, like Nevada, that people’s discretionary funds become the absolute backbone of our economy and answer to a budget crisis when really it should be treated as bonus cash.
It’s not an easy time to be in the business of politics, especially for those seeking to retain their seats for next session. As the Delaware political season moves forward, the General Assembly must remember that it’s not their job to get re-elected, but to represent us and lead the state in a positive direction.
And unpopular decisions ultimately will be a part of that process.
