Majority opposes single casino

Voters frown on casinos but are torn about whether Hawaii should legalize shipboard gambling or a state lottery.

A new Hawaii Poll found strong opposition to a single casino (64 percent) and casinos at multiple locations (72 percent). Fifty-one percent of respondents said they would consider shipboard gambling, however, while nearly half (49 percent) favor a state lottery.

Hawaii and Utah are the only states that have not legalized some form of gambling, and the issue is frequently brought up at the state Legislature, particularly during economic declines. State House and Senate leaders have said it is unlikely lawmakers will approve gambling this year, although a task force to study the matter might be formed.

Many residents interviewed about the poll results said they do not have strong moral objections to gambling, but recognize that legalization might come with a price.

"I gamble, and I like it because for me it’s fun," said Jaya Pothulu Marayya, a native of Malaysia who moved to Hawaii seven months ago. "I know myself. If I lose, I just walk away."

But Marayya acknowledged that may not be so easy for others. "I’ve seen people take it very seriously, and that’s when it becomes a problem for the family," she said.

Grace Sperling, who lives near Diamond Head, does not support any form of gambling because she thinks it will cause crime to increase and entice poor people to spend their money hoping to hit it big. "The people here don’t really need it," she said. "If people can afford to gamble, they’ll go to Vegas to do it. If they can’t afford it, they won’t go."

Ahnya Chang, who lives in Manoa, said she is not against gambling, but believes it is wrong for Hawaii for aesthetic reasons. She said she gambled at an Indian casino in New Mexico and thought the building looked "garish" and detracted from the natural beauty of the desert.

"I know it’s good for revenue, but I think they’re generally unattractive," she said.

Chang does not think the absence of gambling in Hawaii has a negative influence on tourism because the islands have so many other attractions to offer visitors. "There’s so many other things to do here," she said "We already have malls and high-end retail. … If people want to gamble, there’s other places in the world."

The Hawaii Poll was conducted by phone among 771 registered voters statewide from Jan. 26 to Feb. 5 by Ward Research Inc. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points.

The poll showed that opposition to casinos was consistent across gender, ethnicity, age, income and political demographics. Young people were the only ones who appeared somewhat open to a single casino with 44 percent supporting a casino and 54 percent opposing.

State Rep. Tom Brower (D, Waikiki-Ala Moana), chairman of the House Tourism Committee, deferred a bill Monday that would have allowed a single casino in Waikiki. He said, however, that he remains open-minded.

"I don’t fear gambling," he said. "Gambling is about self-control. If gambling is done right, it could be very beneficial to the state, and we’re seeing this in a number of other locations."

Brower said lawmakers, if they eventually pursue legalization, should determine whether they want gambling revenue to help finance infrastructure, keep other taxes lower or boost public education. "And that will determine the type of gambling that you may want to have," he said, adding that he doubts a state lottery or shipboard gambling would create as much revenue as casino gaming.

John Radcliffe, a lobbyist who represents casino interests, said the state needs additional sources of revenue to pay for government services and to help satisfy growing financial obligations for public employees’ health care and retirement. He also said that tourists, particularly from Asia, like gambling.

"We need to have new sources of income in Hawaii," Radcliffe said. "Our tourist population is changing and is being led by people who enjoy gambling; the Chinese, the South Koreans and to some extent the Japa­nese as well."

For others, establishing a Waikiki casino would help create jobs, keep locals from spending as much of their vacation dollars in Las Vegas and lure tourists.

"For one, it would create work. Two, we keep the people from Hawaii going to Vegas, keep the money here," said Pele Lui-Yuen, a member of the Floorlayers’ Union. "Maybe it’ll help out with our tax in the future, cut it down, you know, like how Vegas is — they don’t pay state (income) tax."

Lui-Yuen said he does not gamble often, but that he would go to a casino in Waikiki should one open there. He also said he thinks having a Waikiki casino would attract more visitors.

"You figure a tourist is going to look at it as paradise and gambling (in) one stop," he said.

But state House Minority Leader Gene Ward (R, Kalama Valley-Hawaii Kai) said the strong opposition to casinos in the Hawaii Poll was revealing. He said voters correctly drew sharp distinctions between shipboard gambling or a state lottery and Vegas-style casinos.

"I think we’ve always flirted with gambling. We’ve always had a secret desire to try to put it into our economic choices," Ward said. "When push comes to shove, it’s been rejected, and I think wisely so."