Hawaii Soon to Legalize Casino Gambling

by Jzee

Monday, March 22, 2010 at 01:29 PM EDT

In the last few months gambling has become a popular way for lawmakers to help their struggling economy. Isn’t it funny to find the same body of lawmakers who once used to accuse these games that people like us love to play for mental relaxation or challenge as factors for demoralizing societies now thinking about them as a way to improve the sinking economy? If you have been regularly reading the blog posts of this site, you might have learned how one state after another are taking up the issues of legalizing online gambling, casino table games, and alike just to increase the state treasure which is really in a topsy-turvy condition due to recession and economic slowdown.

There are many states which expanded their video gambling laws, lotteries, and alike features only to bring good revenue to the state treasury. Whatever may be their intention in legalizing the gambling games or internet gambling, it is good for us! Yes, we fellows are least concerned what is in their mind as long as they make things free for us to play the game. How can they take away the freedom from us to play online games? The next state in the line is Hawaii. It seems soon the states without legal gambling would be a minority at this pace.

Hawaii which is one of the top tourist attractions of the world has seen the downfall of tourism industry in the last two years. Now they are of the view that the attractions, beautiful landscapes, and picturesque sceneries are no longer going to bring tourists to the state and increase the treasury. Hence they have come up with the plan of legalizing the casino gambling in the state to lure people who cannot play the games in their states.

There has been mixed reaction to this news by the local residents. Those who love table games are really excited with the move while the dogmatic section feels that gambling or casinos have never been the part of their culture and society of Hawaii and it is not the right time to infiltrate the state. The two viewpoints of the state made the lawmakers little worried and thoughtful before they take any decision.

Hawaii known for its white sand, surf, volcanoes, and sun will soon be adding slots to that list! Hawaii was one of the strict states to ban gambling and no casinos in its soil. But now the Native Hawaiian Lands and tourist filled Waikiki will soon have a casino or two to attract people who love to play table games during holiday. They are of the view that casinos can at least save the declining tourist industry.

The enormous budget deficits in Hawaii led them down this path – the simplest way to increase tourism revenue as well as bring extra income to state revenues. We are aware how two casinos in a state can fill the treasury per month by millions of dollars.

This article originally appeared on Another Harvard Blog.