Two Bills Allowing Gambling in Hawaii Fail; Detroiters Actively Lobbied for Passage

From the League of Women Voters May 2010 Newsletter | Anti-Gambling Update

Anti-Gambling Results

May 2010

In February, two bills [HB 2251 & HB 2759] strongly supported by gambling interests came up for public hearing at the Legislature. After lively testimony and discussion, both bills were deferred.

Along with the Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling and other community and native Hawaiian groups, LWV’s Jean Aoki testified against the measures. John Radcliffe, an industry spokesperson from Michigan, spoke in favor of the bills, saying the casinos would generate jobs and increased revenue for the state.

One bill would have permitted a single casino in a county with more than 500,000 residents. The second would have allowed casinos on Hawaiian Homelands. As it turned out, both bills were dead. Nor did other gambling bills come forward.