Aug 10, 2008 12:42 pm US/Mountain
Casino-Backed Measure Makes November Ballot
DENVER (CBS4/AP) ―
A proposal to raise bet limits, extend hours and add games in the state's three casino towns will go before Colorado voters in November.
"We've had the perfect storm of the smoking ban hitting the same time as gasoline prices shot up and the economy took a downturn," said Katy Atkinson with the Amendment 50 campaign.
The Colorado Secretary of State's office said Friday that it had certified the measure, which will appear as Amendment 50 on the ballot. Supporters needed to submit about 76,000 valid signatures for the measure to be approved for the ballot.
It would allow casinos in Cripple Creek, Black Hawk and Central City to increase the state's maximum $5 bet to $100, stay open 24 hours instead of closing at 2 a.m., and offer roulette and craps games.
But first, the measure must survive a statewide vote in November. Then voters in Gilpin and Teller counties, where the casino towns are located, will vote on the measure in separate elections, said Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo, who is heading up proponents' southern Colorado campaign.
"It was Colorado voters who gave us limited stakes gaming in those three mountain communities," Atkinson said. "This doesn't expand it outside of those communities."
Under the measure, 78 percent of additional proceeds from state gambling taxes generated by the measure would go to the state's community colleges, and 22 percent would go to the three casino towns.
Tapia said the measure could generate about $5 million a year.
Right now, half the revenues from the state's gambling tax goes directly into the state's general fund, with the rest going to statewide historic preservation and to communities that host the casinos.
The state gambling tax generated about $108 million during the fiscal year that ended June 30, down 3.4 percent from the $122 million the state brought in the prior year.
Casinos have contributed at least $5 million to campaign for Amendment 50.
Gambling addiction counselor Dr. J. Michael Faragher said because gambling is so available, as close as the Internet, he'd like to see Colorado's proposal include treatment funding for the gambling casualties.
"Anytime you increase the accessibility or availability of something like gambling, there's going to be an increase in the number of people that have problems with it," Faragher said. "With the increased revenue, I think we need to look at setting aside money for treatment, prevention and education. And I don't think that's been done."
Right now, Colorado's 42 casinos can offer only poker, blackjack and slot machines and must close at 2 a.m.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
316,000 Bongs Disguised As Ornaments
Obama Sculpture Does A Cool Trick
Slideshow: Colorado's Weirdest House
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments