Updated: February 8, 2012 5:01PM

It hasn’t even been a year since the Rivers Casino had its grand opening. If you remember, Des Plaines Mayor Marty Moylan cut the ribbon last July by exclaiming “Cha-ching,” Rivers Casino’s advertising catch phrase.

Until last year, the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin was the place to hang out for great gambling, entertainment and restaurants. Should anyone be surprised that Elgin’s very own riverboat has been sent down river with a lot less cash for the Fox Valley? Of course not, because we all knew that when Des Plaines got the go-ahead for another riverboat casino, the cash was only going to go so far.

So as Des Plaines celebrates its “Cha-ching,” Elgin already is feeling the crunch. One thing already determined is that this will be the final year for those $200 senior tax rebates. Eligible Elgin residents had to be 65 or older, live in Elgin, of course, have a Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption, and own a home or mobile home for the 12 months the rebate became available.

Two hundred dollars might not sound like a big hunk of change, but to a senior living on a fixed income, it most likely was a welcomed windfall. That $200 or so could pay some utilities, help pay for a month’s worth of groceries, or provide some extra cash for an evening out to dinner followed by some entertainment at the Hemmens Cultural Center.

Luckily, the owners of the Grand Victoria and the city of Elgin are not quite ready to throw in the towel. Presently on the table is a proposal to conduct a partnership study to delve into the possibility of building a multipurpose entertainment building that would bring people back to the Grand Victoria by providing better competition for the Rivers Casino, and recoup revenues back to the Fox Valley.

We already know that the Hemmens Cultural Center, with its 1,200 seats, is becoming antiquated with its outdated heating and air conditioning systems, lack of first-floor restrooms, poor acoustics, and not enough aisles. A new, 2,000-seat facility could be home to the Elgin Symphony Orchestra as well as special events.

Like most progress, a study must be conducted before the work can get started. If the planned study shows that a new cultural center is worth the money to put up and a boost to the lagging attendance at the Grand Victoria, why not take the plunge?

If the study shows a new cultural center is way too costly for what revenues it can bring to the city, then it should be back to the old drawing board. After all, there is a lot more at stake here than a $200 senior tax rebate.

Linda McDaniel-Hale is a Sleepy Hollow resident.

RALEIGH Two months after Gov. Bev Perdue trumpeted a new gambling compact with the states Cherokee Indians, live blackjack and poker are inching closer to reality at the tribes Western North Carolina casino.

The deal became mired in negotiations after Republican legislative leaders expressed significant concerns about the constitutionality of provisions that directed gambling revenue and granted the tribe exclusive regional rights.

But the governors office said this week it is close to a resolution – and expects to have the compact ready for state lawmakers when they return to Raleigh for a mini-session in February.

Now, the bigger obstacle is whether Republican legislative leaders can muster the votes to enable the new games. They hope to win over skeptical rank-and-file lawmakers by casting it as a jobs issue.

Unlike most legislative issues, gambling defies partisan labels with liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans uniting in opposition to the compact. In recent years, the legislature has moved to limit gambling and the compacts passage is far from certain.

I dont think its good for the state, said state Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Greensboro Democrat, echoing moral concerns raised by some Republicans. I think it preys on those that are most vulnerable and can least afford it.

The 30-year agreement, as written, would sanction Las Vegas-style card games and send a percentage of the money from Harrahs Cherokee Casino to the state education department, starting at 4 percent and moving eventually to 8 percent.

In signing the agreement in November, Perdue, a Democrat, touted it as a way to raise an estimated $2.5 million initially for school districts and create 400 projected jobs in the local economy. The state receives no revenue from existing casino games under the current accord, reached in 1994 under Gov. Jim Hunt.

Gov. Perdue is focused on finalizing the compact with the Cherokee because it will create jobs and inject much-needed funding into our classrooms, said spokeswoman Chris Mackey.

The legislature didnt directly participate in the compact negotiations and doesnt need to approve the specific terms of the deal. But lawmakers still hold sway because they would need to amend a state law to allow live table games. The federal government also must approve the compact.

Perdues office scrambled to complete the compact during the Thanksgiving weekend and sent it to the legislature for approval amid its November mini-session. House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate leader Phil Berger, both Republicans, support a compact. But they declined to consider it saying the agreement was riddled with errors – including the wrong address for the governors office – and needed further consideration before it came to a vote.

In a December letter, attorneys for Tillis and Berger told Perdues office that the state constitution only allows the legislature to appropriate money and the agreement with the tribe infringes on lawmakers authority. The compact sends North Carolinas portion of revenues directly to the state education department, which could create a constitutional deficiency that will likely be subjected to a robust legal challenge, the attorneys argued.

The legislative attorneys also suggested a clause granting the tribe exclusivity to live table games west of Interstate 26 contradicts a constitutional ban on the creation of monopolies making it possibly susceptible to a constitutional challenge.

The revenue and exclusivity provisions were major sticking points in the negotiations. But the governors office dismisses the suggestion of a monopoly and believes the funding issue will get resolved in the accompanying legislation without much trouble.

Critics suggest larger obstacles exist. I think (the current language) is a problem, said Bill Brooks, the NC Family Policy Council president and a gambling opponent.

Brooks believes the legal issues will require a change in the constitution to authorize the compact or it will prompt a legal challenge.

(Rashad Evans: Hell put those hands on you worse thanwell, you know. / Photo via MMAFighting.com)

The UFC returns to FOX this Saturday with a three-fight main card that could produce the next title contenders in two different divisions. Its also packed with betting opportunities that will generously reward the risk-takers. And youre not a chicken, are you? Huh? Bawk bawk bawwwwwk?? Yeah, thats what we thought. So consider our UFC on FOX 2: Evans vs. Davis gambling advice after the jump, and be sure to come back for our liveblog, which kicks off at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. But first, the complete odds lineup, via BestFightOdds.com:

MAIN CARD (FOX)
Rashad Evans (-165) vs. Phil Davis (+175)
Chael Sonnen (-400) vs. Michael Bisping (+394)
Chris Weidman (-140) vs. Demian Maia (+128)

PRELIMINARY CARD (FUEL TV)
Evan Dunham (-314) vs. Nik Lentz (+300)
Shane Roller (-218) vs. Michael Johnson (+200)
Mike Russow (-150) vs. Jon Olav Einemo (+152)
Cub Swanson (-136) vs. George Roop (+125)
Charles Oliveira (-458) vs. Eric Wisely (+400)
Joey Beltran (-204) vs. Lavar Johnson (+183)

PRELIMINARY CARD (FACEBOOK.com/UFC)
Chris Camozzi (-170) vs. Dustin Jacoby (+160)

Lets get started

The Main Event: This is Rashads fight to lose. His striking is better than Daviss, and hes not going to allow Mr. Wonderful to outwrestle him for five rounds. I say Evans keeps the fight standing and takes a win on the scorecards. Now, if you consider the intangibles — Rashads streak of bad luck, his high emotions coming into this fight, the rocky start of the Blackzilians camp (see: Anthony Johnson, Melvin Guillard) — then an upset starts to seem possible. But on paper, Suga holds more advantages, and you can bet comfortably on him.

The Good Dogs: For starters, the two other fights on the main card are worth looking at. Chael Sonnen certainly deserves to be the favorite against Michael Bisping, but 4-1 odds is pushing it. (You have to think that Bisping has spent the last week drilling triangle chokes off his back nonstop.) A small wager on Bisping for the upset is smart, simply because the payoff is so inflated. As for Demian Maia, slating him as the underdog is close to insulting. Weidman may be the newest hot-shit wrestler/grappler prospect in the middleweight division, but hes also coming into the fight on very short notice, against a veteran whose biggest strengths are on the mat. Weidman could be in trouble here. I also like the occasionally-brilliant George Roop at +125 against the generally-inconsistent Cub Swanson.

Prelim Steal: How is Mike Russow, whos 3-0 in the UFC and hasnt lost a fight in almost five years, only a -150 favorite against Jon Olav Einemo, whos 0-1 in the UFC and hasnt won a fight in over five years? Just because Einemo briefly had Dave Herman on the ropes in his UFC debut, were supposed to think that this fight isnt a squash match? Forget that — this is free money. Bet big on Russow.

Official CagePotato Parlay: Sonnen + Russow + Oliveira + Beltran

Suggested wager for a $50 stake
- $10 on Evans
- $5 on Bisping
- $5 on Maia
- $5 on Roop
- $20 on Russow
- $5 on the parlay

The Daily Reveille

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Opinion

A bigjump in the number of people gambling in Canterbury is being blamed on peoples need to escape the stresses of constant earthquakes and an uncertain future.

Figures released by the Department of Internal Affairs show there was nearly a 10 per cent increase in spending on pokies in Christchurch City last year compared with the previous 12 months.

The amount spent on the pokies also increased in all the areas surrounding Christchurch.

Tony Milne, the Christchurch- based national manager of public health at the Problem Gambling Foundation, is not surprised.

We know pokie usage increased dramatically in Christchurch after the September and February earthquakes, and 12 months later there are still a lot more people using pokies, he said.

In Christchurch the increase could well be attributed to the incredibly stressful year weve had here. Its no surprise that people are looking for relief from that stress or using pokies as escapism. Wine, chocolate, drugs, coffee, pokies – people in Christchurch are self-medicating.

The increase in surrounding areas could probably be attributed to a population and pokie machine increase in those areas.

Milne said the disaster literature cautioned authorities to expect an increase in addictive behaviour following traumatic events.

This doesnt necessarily mean we will see a massive increase in people with gambling problems, he said. It just means more people are gambling on pokies and more people are at risk of developing a problem.

Foxwoods was the states first legal gambling casino and could benefit if online gambling becomes legal in the state.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Foxwoods Casino

We do not need more gambling in Iowa

It wont be long before our legislators and the governor will be dealing with Internet gambling. A recent poll of Iowans showed that 73 percent do not want to legalize Internet gambling. I would

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Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich speaks after receiving an endorsement from national Hispanic leaders at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami on Friday.

By Bill Boyarsky

With financial and political interests ranging from Las Vegas to Israel to China, Sheldon Adelson, who is bankrolling the super PAC supporting Newt Gingrich, is a powerful illustration of the dangers of unlimited campaign contributions.

Casino magnate Adelson donated $5 million to the super PAC Winning Our Future, which helped Gingrich defeat Mitt Romney in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary. Then Adelson’s wife, Miriam, gave the pro-Gingrich PAC $5 million more for the Florida primary. These gifts provide sweet revenge for Gingrich, beaten in Iowa and New Hampshire with the help of ad campaigns funded by the pro-Romney super PAC, which is now operating in Florida.

Such unlimited contributions are permitted by 2010 federal court decisions. In Citizens United, the US Supreme Court ruled that corporations and unions could give unlimited amounts to political action committees supposedly independent of candidates. Following up on that, a federal appeals court in the SpeechNow case extended the privilege to individuals. Because of their ability to sweep up huge amounts so quickly, these political action committees have well earned the name super PAC.

Worth $22 billion, according to Forbes, Adelson owns casinos in Las Vegas and the Chinese gambling haven of Macau. He also operates in Singapore. Miriam Adelson is a physician, specializing in substance abuse rehabilitation.

Many of Adelson’s activities are influenced by federal government policy.

In Gov. Steve Beshears State of the Commonwealth address Jan. 4, he called for the state legislators to introduce and approve a bill to allow voters to decide if they want casino type gambling in this state. I say to you, Expanding gambling is not the answer to Kentuckys financial problems.

In an article by Chuck Stinnett this past Sunday, he reported how the Spectrum Gaming Group has estimated that a casino at Ellis Park would bring the equivalent of jobs for 552 full-time employees and 192 construction workers jobs.

Gaming is just a more politically acceptable word for gambling. I have no way of checking it out, but I hesitate to trust the figures set forth in a study done by the gambling industry. Those kinds of studies done by the gambling industry on the economic impact of expanded gambling often manipulate the numbers for their purposes in a kind of math in fantasyland fashion.

The gaming industry is quick to give figures regarding the positive economic impact of gambling, but neglects to mention the negative side. With increased gambling additional law enforcement is needed because crime increases in the area. State and county agencies that deal with welfare needs are impacted because the families of gamblers have less money for rent, groceries and utilities. Also, churches and faith-based groups are affected because they have to take up more slack to help families because a family member has gambled away some money.

I personally knew a man grieving from his wifes death who started going to the boat in Evansville to gamble. His losses caused him to lose his house and most every other thing he had. He robbed a bank. After being caught he spent the rest of his life in prison at a huge cost to our state.

Gambling is a business issue. It doesnt create any additional money. While gambling makes money for casinos and race tracks, which pay taxes and give a small cut to the state, local businesses are losers because the money spent gambling is money thats not available to be spent in restaurants, groceries or local stores.

Gambling is a moral issue. Many Kentucky residents will have to lose a lot of money for the government to get additional revenue from gambling. For the most part gambling takes money out of the pockets of those who can least afford it. Its a bigger temptation to certain social economic groups who are struggling financially and are willing to put money in slot machines and to bet on horses in order to hit it big.

Its bad public policy for a government to make its own citizens losers for it to gain. Shouldnt our state government be protecting and alerting its citizens of the grave potential dangers of losing their hard-earned money rather than encouraging them to gamble when the odds are stacked against them to lose? When people lose their money gambling, marriages are affected adversely, children do without school supplies and clothes, and individuals are depressed.

This past Sunday I spoke to a man at church whom Id been missing. He explained he has been going to Louisville to help take care of his 80-year-old uncle whos in assisted living. He said the uncles son has been going to the boat and has gambled away $100,000 of the mans money. Now, the family is concerned if there is enough money for the uncle to be properly cared for. Gambling hurts a lot of people.

Gambling is a religious issue. The Bible doesnt encourage gambling, and God doesnt bless it. Gods plan for making money is called Work. Gambling urges people to lust for more money. Greed and covetousness are sins (Ten Commandments – Ex. 20). God wants you to use your money wisely for his glory and to help others. The Bible warns, Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income (Eccles. 5:10).

Dont feel sorry for the racetrack owners. Mr. Geary, the owner of Ellis Park, stated, Last year (2010) saw a 22-percent increase in on-track attendance, averaging about 3,700 … and a nearly 17-percent increase in on-track wagering (June 30, 2010 front page article in The Gleaner).

I urge you to join the fight against expanding gambling in the Bluegrass. Increased gambling in our state is simply bad public policy. Call or email your state elected officials and ask them to do everything possible to turn back the tide on expanded gambling in Kentucky. You can contact your legislators via the legislative message line at 1-800-372-7181 or via the Legislative Research Commission website at www.lrc.ky.gov.

You can be assured the gambling industry is going all out to lobby your legislators, so its imperative you speak clearly to them about this issue. They work for you!

The writer is a Sebree resident.

Minnesota Mulls Gambling Expansion Options

Written by Renee K | Sunday, November 27th, 2011

With pressure on the Minnesota government mounting to construct a one billion dollar Vikings football stadium, it seems more likely that there will be more support for the expansion of gambling in the state to fund the massive project, if the only other option is a tax hike.

A stadium funding bill is set to be unveiled next month and it has been confirmed that gambling proposals are the main options being considered. Some of these options include allowing bars and restaurants in Minnesota to upgrade pull tab games to electronic versions. Another option could be to allow two horse racing tracks in Twin Cities to install up to two thousand video slot machines each, while a third being touted is the construction of a casino complex in downtown Minneapolis.

Whichever option is chosen – if it comes to that – the government will be getting a healthy chunk of the revenues from taxation as well as licensing fees. It is hoped that the money will be enough to pay the $650 million currently being asked by the Vikings to replace the Metrodome – with experts saying that the price tag could easily reach $1 billion by the end of the construction.

As with all attempts to expand gambling at a state level, there is already growing opposition to the idea. Native American tribes are rejecting the expansion of gambling as they are worried about the competition to their own casinos, while social advocacy groups are decrying the potential damage. “It encourages indebtedness, family problems,” said the president of the Minnesota Family Council, Tom Prichard. “You’re really targeting a narrow range of people who do a significant amount of gambling.”

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