Chamber right to survey members about casinos

The Galveston Chamber of Commerce is quite correct both to ask its members what they think about casinos in Galveston and then to help educate them about the ongoing gambling debate in Texas.

The chamber last week asked its members to fill out an online survey. Now, results are coming in, and it’s important that a broad cross-section of chamber members respond. To ensure a broad response, chamber staff members plan to call members who don’t respond online.

In November, the chamber also will host a community luncheon featuring Dr. Denise Von Herrmann of the University of Southern Mississippi, a well-known expert on the impact of casinos.

The chamber’s casino survey is simple for anyone who has a computer and an Internet connection. For those who don’t, the survey can be filled out manually.

Why now?

Texas faces a deficit in the 2011 Legislature of some $18 billion to $20 billion, assuming the economy gets no worse than it is today. Yes, that’s billions with a “b.” While gambling has come up in previous sessions, it’s more likely to gain some traction in 2011 than in previous years if only because of the financial problems facing the state.

Many residents and legislators long have worried about the billions in gambling revenue that leave Texas every year to Nevada, Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico. However, the conservative Republican Texas Legislature has been loath to take the step of approving casinos.

It’s hard for many to see much moral distinction between casinos and the state’s lottery, but that’s the way the Legislature has seen it.

While the odds are better for casinos this year than ever, their passage is by no means a slam-dunk. In fact, our own wager would be the changes are less than 50-50. The Legislature still is a very conservative body. And if casinos won Legislative approval, there still would have to be a constitutional amendment approving them and, most likely, local option elections.

So it’s a long way from Galveston to Las Vegas.

Nonetheless, the chamber must follow gambling closely in the Legislature. If it appears gambling might pass, the chamber must understand the law and evaluate its impact. It must attempt to chart a course that best serves the business community of Galveston. The survey of chamber members just makes sense.

The first and last questions really are the most relevant. Question No. 1 asks if respondents think casinos “will help my business.” The last asks if the chamber “should advocate casino gambling for the city of Galveston in the next session of the Texas Legislature.”

Whether you support casinos or oppose them, it’s important for chamber members to weigh in on this very important issue. Please participate.

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Casino Survey Questions

1. I believe casinos in the city of Galveston will help my business.

2. I believe casinos located elsewhere in Galveston County, but not in the city of Galveston, will help my business.

3. I believe the Chamber of Commerce should support casinos only if the proposal includes a local option that would allow the city to accept or reject casinos.

4. I believe that the Chamber of Commerce should support casinos only if the proposal includes a local option that would allow the city’s voters to have a say in the size, location and process to approve casinos.

5. I believe the Galveston Chamber of Commerce should advocate casino gambling for the city of Galveston in the next session of the Texas Legislature.