Should Arkansas Allow Gambling and/or Alcohol?

[Mith242]

Just to add some added info of the subject. I think many people here in western Arkansas know that Oklahoma has been expanding more into the gambling area. They are now building fullfledged casinos and not just the bingo places they used to have a few years back. There was a lot of attention on the local news here because Oklahoma also now has lotteries, even though Missouri is also close to us here in Arkansas and have had them for quite a while. So unfortunately here's another area for more Arkansas money to go out of state. I know I've mentioned this before but I really wish Arkansas would at least allow some limited access gambling. Just to try to keep some of the money inside our state.

[mcheiss]

Just to add some added info of the subject. I think many people here in western Arkansas know that Oklahoma has been expanding more into the gambling area. They are now building fullfledged casinos and not just the bingo places they used to have a few years back. There was a lot of attention on the local news here because Oklahoma also now has lotteries, even though Missouri is also close to us here in Arkansas and have had them for quite a while. So unfortunately here's another area for more Arkansas money to go out of state. I know I've mentioned this before but I really wish Arkansas would at least allow some limited access gambling. Just to try to keep some of the money inside our state.

Sure. If certain counties or cities want to allow gambling than they should be allowed to. Not everyone has to join that bandwagon. I think it would be a great asset, especially to our schools.

[Mith242]

Sure. If certain counties or cities want to allow gambling than they should be allowed to. Not everyone has to join that bandwagon. I think it would be a great asset, especially to our schools.

I think the main problem has been a divided effort. You have some pushing for statewide gambling because they don't want some other city or county getting all the revenue. Then you have others who want it in a place like Hot Springs, but don't want it in their backyards. I guess I'd prefer we have it in certain areas, but I guess I'd go for statewide rather than nothing at all. But I think certain cities like Hot Springs, Ft Smith, Pine Bluff, West Memphis would make good locations. Let's at least try to keep some of the money in state. People are going to gamble even if they have to go across the Arkansas border to do it. And it's obvious our neighboring states are taking advantage of this and are putting casinos right on our border.

[mcheiss]

Oklahoma started a state lottery pretty recently. Along with Missouri they are both robbing plenty of Arkansans dollars.

[Mith242]

Thought I'd bring up an old topic. I think many people hear about gambling at Tunica. But I'm not sure if those of you not around western Arkansas know just how much Oklahoma seems to be pushing this now. In Oklahoma Native American tribes saw revenue climb 40% in 2005 over 2004. They took in $1.5 Billion in 2005. I'm not sure how much ended up going to the Oklahoma government. But you would think they got a nice chunk or it. I still think Arkansas is really missing out on a lot of revenue with this.

[KJW]

Thought I'd bring up an old topic. I think many people hear about gambling at Tunica. But I'm not sure if those of you not around western Arkansas know just how much Oklahoma seems to be pushing this now. In Oklahoma Native American tribes saw revenue climb 40% in 2005 over 2004. They took in $1.5 Billion in 2005. I'm not sure how much ended up going to the Oklahoma government. But you would think they got a nice chunk or it. I still think Arkansas is really missing out on a lot of revenue with this.

[Mith242]

Mith, forgive me but...I'm going to vent a moment on this topic from a different angle.

Last Sunday's Benton County Record had a "man on the street" series of profiles, asking an ostensible cross section of Benton Countians a series of questions, each series the same. Among these questions were: 1) "Do you think Benton County should go wet?", and; 2) "Do you think Arkansas should have a lottery?"

Among the county citizens interviewed were two eighth grade girls. And each thought Benton County should go wet and that Arkansas should have a lottery. (EDIT: Here's the online version of this...one of the girls answers has been edited (the "lottery/wet" questions aren't there) but the other one's answers are there plain as today's sunshine.)

[Aporkalypse]

Oklahoma started a state lottery pretty recently. Along with Missouri they are both robbing plenty of Arkansans dollars.

[Mith242]

The new Lt Gov Bill Halter is pushing a bill to get Arkansas in the Powerball lottery and use the money for education. I hope it's successful. The same thing happens in Texas, BTW. Southwest Arkansans can drive to Texarkana, TX and buy tickets.

[strmchsr77]

Thought I'd bring up an old topic. I think many people hear about gambling at Tunica. But I'm not sure if those of you not around western Arkansas know just how much Oklahoma seems to be pushing this now. In Oklahoma Native American tribes saw revenue climb 40% in 2005 over 2004. They took in $1.5 Billion in 2005. I'm not sure how much ended up going to the Oklahoma government. But you would think they got a nice chunk or it. I still think Arkansas is really missing out on a lot of revenue with this.