Don’t bet on it: Students opinions mixed on gambling legislation

FlipSide illustration by KATIE ABBOTT/So. Chas.

By Katlin Stinespring
Hurricane High School

The table games legislation that passed in August has brought multiple opinions to the “table” as adults and teenagers alike mull over differing views. Reactions to the multiple ballot miscounts and subsequent recount upped the ante in this debate.

After frustrating weeks of belated ballot appearances and uncertainty surrounding voting results, an outcome was announced on Aug. 30. Kanawha will join Hancock and Ohio counties to allow table games additions, including poker, roulette and blackjack, to their racetracks. Economically, these additions will benefit the state, creating more than 900 new jobs and bringing a $250 million expansion to Nitro’s Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center alone.

However, not everyone is pleased with the vote’s outcome.

Multiple churches and religious-right groups held protests in opposition to the legislation. Because the Kanawha County Commission refused to pay for a ballot recount, Mia Moran-Cooper (former head of the state problem gambling network) led the opposition in funding the measure. After recounting 44 of Kanawha County’s most controversial districts, the vote passed by 339, four less than the original tally.

Following all the miscounts and discovery of missing ballots, Secretary of State Betty Ireland declared an audit to further investigate the problems with the Kanawha County vote. This is an attempt to determine why such mistakes were made within the election and to answer lingering questions following the final vote.

Hurricane High School students have their own opinions regarding the legislation and miscount. Many are of age to participate in the gambling opportunities or obtain future jobs at local gambling parlors, and there were also students who participated in church protests against the legislation.

“Heck yeah! I can finally play some [table games] now. Once I play them once or twice, if I don’t like them, they can shut them down and I won’t care,” said senior Robby Vanater enthusiastically.

“It’s going to bring a crapload of money into West Virginia. The people who are against it don’t understand this and that it will bring tourists to the state. It’s also giving a lot of money to senior citizens and healthcare,” he added.

“I’m not saying they’re morally right or wrong, but the table games will make jobs,” said senior Iain Stuart. “I’m definitely going to be playing them! I’m a big fan of the free market.”

“I am against it because I find that it’s immoral and because I am a Christian I kind of have to be against it. It devastates families because people often spend their entire life savings and income on it,” said senior Kevin Green.

Junior Megan Arthur agreed with Green. “The table games legislation will bring negative things to the state. People shouldn’t gamble their family’s money, and many will now because of the legislation. If you have money and it’s extra, that’s one thing, but it’s wrong when people who don’t have it in the first place use it to earn money.”

“I think the table games are just another way for poor people to get in debt,” said senior Brittany Bowie. “Some casinos even put chemicals in the air that make people cheery so that they don’t realize they are losing money.”

“They definitely should’ve been voted no, and it should be re-voted after the miscounts,” said sophomore Beth White. “It says it’s wrong to gamble in the Bible and that’s why I’m against it. My church even had a big sign protesting the table games.”

“West Virginia is turning into Las Vegas,” she added.

Beyond the morality and economic factors, some considered the effects racing has on animals and the new option table gaming provides active gamblers.

“I think [the table games] are better than betting on greyhounds. I’d rather people spend their money, waste it and lose it on the table games than while watching abused dogs race in the 100 degree heat then be trashed when they are too old to race or perform poorly,” said senior Anna Maria Firth.

Table games are going to change the outlook of the state, though only time will tell if it’s for better or worse. The West Virginia government has turned to tourism - from whitewater rafting to skiing to mountain biking — as its primary source of economic revenue, but this legislation will add an entirely new dynamic to this financial resource.

For an editorial by the author on the approval of table games and the problems with the August election, visit www.wvflipside.com.