A Good, Hard Look at Gambling

After sailing through the House, a bill calling for a national study of the exploding gambling industry faces uncertain prospects in the Senate. At this point, the powerful gambling lobby has the measure bottled up in committee. But it won’t stay there long if Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole exerts the kind of leadership he promises should voters send him to the White House next year.

Dole says he supports the investigation of deleterious social and economic effects of gambling. It must be noted, however, that the Kansas Republican has received heavy campaign donations from gambling interests. Last June, for instance, a luncheon thrown by Las Vegas gambling magnate Steve Wynn raised $478,000 for Dole.

The presumptive GOP presidential nominee will be a key player in shaping any legislation taken up by the full Senate. We strongly urge that the Senate bill contain the same tough provisions approved by the House: a comprehensive two-year probe of the industry by a commission with the power to summon witnesses.

Casinos, which as recently as 1984 existed only in Nevada and New Jersey, have now spread to all but two states. And between 1984 and 1994, gross revenues for casinos, lotteries, parimutuel betting and sports books increased to $482 billion from $147 billion.

With that kind of cash flowing around it’s easy to see why the gambling industry is so vigorously resisting legislation that could lead to stronger governmental controls. It’s also easy to see the social problems often associated with gambling--crime, political corruption, personal addiction and negative effects for local economies.

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, headed by Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), has already tried to weaken the bill, limiting its scope to Indian casinos and Internet gambling and stripping the proposed commission’s subpoena power. That’s the wrong direction. Dole should bring forward the House proposal unsullied.