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Gaming Amendment Has Facts, Misleading Statements
Amendment 50 Backers Downplay Changes To Gaming Rules
POSTED: 9:56 am MDT October 6,
2008
UPDATED: 2:31 pm MDT October 13,
2008
DENVER -- A commercial touting a ballot initiative that would increase gaming limits and put the money into community colleges has factual information but also has misleading statements."Voters in three mountain towns can vote for minor modifications to their limited stakes gaming laws," the commercial says.It is true that if Amendment 50 passes, voters in the state’s three gaming communities would decide whether to change gaming in their towns. However, most of the towns have a very small population. For example about 100 registered voters in Black Hawk would decide what happens with gaming rules in that area.
And to claim the modifications to gaming rules are minor is misleading.The changes include raising the betting limits from $5 to as much as $100 – a roughly 2000 percent increase – allowing casinos to be 24-hour operations and allowing craps and roulette in casinos.A spokeswoman for the amendment points out Colorado now has the lowest limits in the country for commercial casinos and this change would still have Colorado with the lowest limits. If Amendment 50 passes, the state’s casinos would be tied with Deadwood, S.D., which also has $100 cap on bets, for the lowest gaming limits.But she concedes that the phrase “minor modifications” is in the eye of the beholder.“Seventy-eight percent of new state revenue goes directly to our community colleges -- a dramatic funding increase without new taxes,” the commercial says.It is fact that 78 percent – about $220 million – would go to community colleges and taxes would not increase. What the commercial leaves out is that the rest of the money would be divided between the counties and cities that have casinos.Historically, Black Hawk has received the most gaming proceeds because its casinos generate the most revenue. Law enforcement and local media investigations – including one this year by 7News -- have focused on questionable spending of money by Black Hawk officials.State historic funds have been spent to remodel elected officials’ homes and city general fund money has sent elected officials and spouses on trips to Las Vegas, the CALL7 investigation found.So it is misleading to focus on the money going to community colleges without mentioning that officials with a history of questionable spending would also get more cash."Yes on 50 -- local voters decide community colleges benefit,” the commercial says. “Yes on 50 -- helping students and local communities without new taxes."These claims are fact. Amendment 50 would benefit colleges without increasing taxes.
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