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No Private Casino for Oregon, Other Measures Approved

Posted on November 5th, 2010

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For casino supporters in the state of Oregon, November 2 was a sad day. The measure to build a casino near the area of Portland was not approved by voters. Meanwhile, a measure to create mandatory minimum sentences for drunken drivers and sex offenders was approved. The main backer of the sentencing measure, Kevin Mannix who used to be a gubernatorial candidate and a lawyer based in Salem, says that the measure to set a minimum sentence is worth the cost so that residents of the state will be protected from breakers of the law. However, this measure is poised to cost the state quite an amount. A financial impact estimate composed by the state claimed that this measure has a price tag between $18 million and $29 million for every year it will be implemented after the first four years. Both Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates did not favor this measure, as labor unions and organizations fighting domestic violence. Mannix explained, “This is the fifth citizens’ initiative on crime reduction I’ve passed. I’m an ace.” Mannix also had another measure, Measure 11 in 1994, which gave mandatory sentences for violent offenders, which was allegedly the cause of the alarming swelling of Oregon’s corrections budget, according to the critics.

Meanwhile, the loss of the measure to build a private casino had tribal casinos cheering, as this rejection of the casino measure means that there would be less competition. The measure, should it have been approved, could have constructed a casino in the outskirts of Portland that would directly compete with the state’s tribal casinos which are in an area located further from the largest metro area of the state. This also means a $2 million loss for a Canadian firm that invested that much into a campaign which pleaded for voters to make this one exception to the ban on private casinos by Oregon. Clairvest Investment Group Inc., a firm based in Toronto, had plans of bankrolling the casino and entertainment venue to cost $250 million to be situated in wood Village, at the former site of the Multnomah Kennel Club.

Justin Martin, a spokesman for the Oregon Tribal Gaming Alliance, which is a group representing the nine Oregon Indian tribes that currently have casinos, could not hide his satisfaction with the referendum results, “We’re excited Oregon voters sent a resounding message to foreign corporations and out-of-state investors that we don’t need a private gambling monopoly here in Oregon.” Martin’s group, among other vocal opponents claimed that the casino would send money out of, instead of inside Oregon. They argued that the state lottery would be adversely affected and tribal casinos’ business would dramatically decrease. With the gambling, Native Americans use the income to take advantage of government services.

Two businessmen based in Lake Oswego had masterminded the measure for the planned casino. They claimed that with the casino, more jobs would be created and more revenue will be enjoyed by the state and local government. Matt Rossman, one of the two businessmen had expressed doubt that the ballot may sway in favor of the opponents, as most casino measures on their first attempt usually do. He has expressed intent to improve the measure and then give it another try after two more years. Rossman believed, “We had a ballot measure that faced a lot of hurdles along the way.” He also claimed that the casino in the area would have amassed a customer base that is may have to opt to gamble on the La Center, WA. The Cowlitz Tribe has expressed their intention to construct a casino in the area to corner the lucrative market of Portland.

In another measure related to gambling, voters approved Measure 76, which continues the allocation of 15 percent of lottery revenue for Oregon parks and wildlife habitat. The executive director of Oregon Recreation and Park Association, Amanda Rich, said this only demonstrates the commitment of voters to the well-being of the state’s natural resources. She explained, “This measure will help us protect and create jobs. I think it’s significant that in this economy, folks made this decision. It shows that voters are not willing to sacrifice this — their environmental stewardship and dedication to quality of life.”

Another controversial measure though, which would have allowed for marijuana dispensaries in the state for medical reasons, was not approved.