Casinos may save the Michigan state situation

When jobs are getting more difficult to get, some are of the opinion that casinos would be able to give a push to the economy. Benton Harbor is a town bordering Lake Michigan with 10,800 residents. Over the past twenty years the 20% of the population has gone from the city. The budget condition of the local government is so severe that the state is thinking of appointing financial manager on an emergency basis.

All things combined have made Mayor Wilce Cooke propose a measure that would permit the opening of casinos in Benton Barbor and in six other places in Michigan. It has the potentiality to generate jobs; a good portion of the revenue would go towards the local government.

Cooke said, “High unemployment, foreclosure – we’ve been hard hit. We have to be smart to generate new forms of revenue, and I think this sis one way to do that.”

Cooke is co-chairing a coalition named Michigan is Yours. It is trying to get an additional 380,000 signatures of voters by 5th July. If the measure gets the nod then developers would be allowed to set up casinos in Benton Harbor, Denton, Flint, Lansing, Muskegon and Romulus.; slot machines would be fixed at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. If the step is made into laws then sports betting would be permitted in the Michigan casinos.

There are two gambling focused measures trying to pass through the November ballot. The other step would permit the setting up of eight other casinos – five of these would be at the horse racing tracks of Michigan. Those supporting the move argue that it would generate jobs, give a boost to tourism and cause tax revenues to pick up.

The proposal named Michigan Is Yours would expect the new casinos to contribute a wagering tax of nearly 19%. Some of the money would be routed to the Promise college scholarship funds – a programme that has been suspended. It would also be given to the popular advertising campaign of Pure Michigan tourism.

But critics are doubtful of the success of these plans. There are already 23 casinos in the state – inclusive of one that is being constructed. Michigan already has the look of being the largest gambling centre in the country. The three casinos of Detroit saw the revenue fall in 2009 for the first time ever. Those opposing the measure contend that Michigan has already reached the point of casino saturation. Expanding gambling has not been of much help to the economy. Michigan leads the nation in highest unemployment rate.

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