YOUR COMMENTS

Some people seem to think the money spent at casinos falls out of the sky, or is printed in the basement of racinos. Wrong! It is transferred out of other segments of the economy. All the money that would be spent at gambling venues and given to that industry, and to the government, is money that would have otherwise been spent on food, skiing, appliances, housing etc. The result is that jobs shift away from those industries to the gambling industry. Gambling has a higher tax rate than those industries so yes, more of the spending ends up as revenue public coffers, but less ends up in the hands of farmers, manufacturers, and retailers.

Those industries have good side effects - better quality of life, good work ethics, and community development. The gambling industry - not so much.

Public spending is less effective at creating economic growth than private spending, essentially because business people are smarter investors than legislators. So by transferring money to the government using higher tax rates on gambling spending, you promote economic decline.

Slots are the most addictive form of gambling out there - we don't need them.
- Jim, Manchester

One of the secrets hidden in the past very carefully is that prior to during,and soon after WWII slot machines were very common in resort areas of this state . In the Wiers there were well over 30 machines hidden here and there and I suspect Wolfboro and Sunapee had similar machines if not more. they kept the places afloat during the lean years of the depression and war.Two large resorts in the mountains were noted for their casinos as they were for speakeasy operations during prohabition. The end of WWII brought a crack down and even Bingo and Beano was banded as gambling .So those who claim the state would be ruined by basic gambling best check with folks in their 70's and 90's or older to remember when we gambled openly.
- clarenceiii, northwood

Hey Adam, I will take more stores over a casino any day, and it wont bring any economic windfall for Salem, never will.
- JeffD, Salem

Hey Fred, a casino would bring even more riff-raff to salem than any mall or tattoo parlor. Just remember, say no to expanded gaming!
- JeffD, Salem

Say no to expanded gaming at Rockingham Park!
- JeffD, Salem

This article contains a misleading statement. It states that all charitable organizations get 35%...MOST charitable bingos are run and operated by the organization and they receive 100%. There are some halls with seedy "consultants" who force the charities to give them 65%...this is not the norm.
- Chris, Londonderry

There is more "RIFF-RAFF" accross the street at the Rockingham Park mall and all the tattoo parlors on route 28 than there is at the track. My next door neighbor is a Salem cop and he informs me that there are 10 times as many calls from the mall (shop lifting, assault, car thievery) than there are from the racetrack.

If that is the case why don't we just close the mall.

The people of this state really really need to get their facts straight before they go throwing stones.
- Fred F., Salem

I"ll vote slots and go to his casino.Can he buy medinner too? I like free food
- Tom, Manchester

The 10% income tax on gambling winnings for NH residents won't help the locals. This imposed income tax (which is what it is) has turned off many locals from playing the lottery. The very few that have won bring a relative along from out of state to claim the winnings. People would rather pay Mass 5.95% over NH's 10%. This tax law needs to be repealed before anyone wants to bring slots to NH.
- Cabot, Londonderry

I assume by riff raff you mean the Mafioso or extortion or loansharking? I guess I would rather have that than rapists and murderers.
- John, Manchester

I'm for expanded gambling, but have a big problem with this guy buying dinner for the representatives.
- Jim Wilson, Manchester

Hey Brian,

Go here and read the facts:

www.noslots.com or more to the point...

http://www.noslots.com/23_Reasons_Page_temp.htm

I am NOT anti-gambling or a tightwad, I am against the Expansion of Gambling here in New Hampshire.

Tom Boucher
- Tom Boucher, Bedford, NH

The plain fact of the matter is this....the anti-gambling buffoons are an ignorant element who does no research and knows nothing except that they are against gambling.

Well guess what, folks...don't go. The 'riff-raff' you speak of doesn't exist...but if you don't like it, you backward-thinking Puritanical tightwads...don't go.

All this talk of economic shortfalls and trying to boost revenue for the state...what do you think pro-gambling legislation would do, people??? Huh??? Wake up, or shut up.
- Brian, Salem

NH has so much going for it we do not need slots, leave them in MA and CT.
I know we now live in MASSahampshire but can't the lawmakers try and remember what the NH lifestyle is really all about? The roads are becoming congested and crime is up. Why would they want to bring more undesirables into the great state of New Hampshire. I say let's put slots in the lawmakers neighborhoods. Let them live with the decisions they make. They only make laws when they don't impact themselves
- Steven, Manchester

"If we crack the door?"

L Hemy, we have: Bingo, Lucky 7, Craps, Poker, $30 Scratch tickets, the lottery, para mutuel wagering, simulcast, the list of goes on and on, those are ALL GAMBLING outlets, sounds like the door is "cracked" to me.

And the last thing 28 needs is more shops, spas and restaurants, take a gander at southern 28 and its a ghost town with the mini malls boarded up like ghost towns.
- Adam, Salem NH

I've been watching the news about Foxwoods not being able to make a loan payment these past few weeks and how many people in the CT area might become unemployed. I've been reading about how there are fears that Foxwoods might go under.
And we are supposed to be putting hope in gambling to help out things around here? If we look towards gambling as a way to help us, we are really in more trouble than I would like to think about.
All I see is a seedy element being brought into New Hampshire that we didn't have before when I think of this. If we crack the door, it's only the beginning. I like to think that people come to NH for the beautiful scenery, the lakes, the mountains, not the tacky things. Can't we leave all that to Foxwoos? See where it is all getting them? Better to develop Rockingham Park into upscale shops and restaurants with a spa of some kind, like Mills Falls up in Meredith. Let's have some class NH. We would attract a more desirable clientele and not the rif-raff.
- L Hemy, Plaistow