Public hearing held on expanded gambling bill – WMUR.com – WMUR Manchester

CONCORD, N.H.

Another vote on casino gambling is looming at the statehouse.

During a public hearing Tuesday, opponents of expanded gaming laid out their arguments against adding video slots.

It's not possible to be both anti-crime and pro-casino at the same time, Franklin Police Chief David Goldstein said, speaking on behalf of the Chiefs of Police Association.

Goldstein pointed to the issues already plaguing our state, specifically the opioid epidemic.

What sense does it make to introduce and legalize another form of addiction in our state? he asked.

The group CasiNO opposes expanded gaming.

Rusty McLear, co-owner of Lakes Region hotel Pres Mills Falls -- said casinos would have an unfair advantage as they lower their rates to attract gamblers.

In essence, gambling will subsidize the restaurants and the rooms. How do we compete with that? The answer is we can't compete with that, McLear said.

Newly sworn-in Attorney General Gordon MacDonald stood with longstanding tradition, urging house members not to pass the bill.

"The concern is, at bottom, that we've got an excellent quality of life and a very low crime rate and the nature of expanded gambling threatens both, MacDonald said.

The bill's supporters maintain that the addition would provide a boost for business.

We have a good bill. It's a strong bill. It's a bill that provides economic opportunity and job creation to people in New Hampshire, Sen. Lou DAllesandro (D-Manchester) said.

Supporters said it's an uphill battle, but its one they will continue to fight as they look to have the bill passed by the House.

"The wealthiest people in the state of New Hampshire are opposed to the bill. It's quite clear. I give them a great deal of credit for the fight. We've been battling for the last two decades, we'll continue to battle, DAllesandro said.

This bill has already passed the Senate, but as in the past, it is expected to have a much more difficult time in the House.

WEBVTT OTS WHILE THE BILL'SSUPPORTERS MAINTAIN IT WOULDPROVIDE A BOOST FOR BUSINESS.>> IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO BE BOTHANTI-CRIME AND PRO-CASINO AT THESAME TIME. SIOBHAN: SPEAKING ON BEHALF OFTHE CHIEF'S OF POLICEASSOCIATION, FRANKLIN CHIEFDAVID GOLDSTEIN POINTS TO THEISSUES ALREADY PLAGUING OURSTATE, SPECIFICALLY THE OPIOIDEPIDEMIC.>> WHAT SENSE DOES IT MAKE TOINTRODUCE AND LEGALIZE ANOTHERFORM OF ADDICTION IN OUR STATE? SIOBHAN: THE GROUP CAS-NOOPPOSES EXPANDING GAMING.RUSTY MCLEAR, CO-OWNER OF ALAKES REGION HOTEL, SAYS CASINOS-WOULD HAVE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGEAS THEY LOWER THEIR RATES TOATTRACT GAMBLERS.>> IN ESSENCE GAMBLING WILLSUBSIDIZE THE RESTAURANTS ANDTHE ROOMS.HOW DO WE COMPETE WITH THAT?THE ANSWER IS WE CAN'T COMPETEWITH THAT. SIOBHAN: THE NEWLY SWORN-INATTORNEY GENERAL STOOD WITHLONGSTANDING TRADITION, URGINGHOUSE MEMBERS NOT TO PASS THEBILL.>> THE CONCERN IS, AT BOTTOM,THAT WE'VE GOT AN EXCELLENTQUALITY OF LIFE AND A VERY LOWCRIME RATE AND THE NATURE OFEXPANDED GAMBLING THREATENSBOTH. >> WE HAVE A GOOD BILL.IT'S A STRONG BILL.IT'S A BILL THAT PROVIDESECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND JOBCREATION TO PEOPLE IN NEWHAMPSHIRE. SIOBHAN: SUPPORTERS SAY IT'S ANUPHILL BATTLE, BUT ONE THEY WILLCONTINUE TO FIGHT AS THEY LOOKTO HAVE THE BILL PASSED BY THEHOUSE.>> THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THESTATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AREOPPOSED TO THE BILL.IT'S QUITE CLEAR.I GIVE THEM A GREAT DEAL OFCREDIT FOR THE FIGHT.WE'VE BEEN BATTLING FOR THE LASTTWO DECADES.WE'LL CONTINUE TO BATTLE. SIOBHAN: THE BILL HAS ALREADYPASSED THE SENATE AS IT HAS INTHE PAST.

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Public hearing held on expanded gambling bill - WMUR.com - WMUR Manchester