After yet another casino bill failed last year, new versions have emerged – with new regulations attached in hopes of appeasing opponents. Supporters say a casino would bring in much-needed revenue to the state. But opposition remains among those worried about social costs, and those who question whether it would be profitable, given expanded gambling elsewhere in New England.
GUESTS:
- Steve Duprey – former Republican Party chair in New Hampshire, president of Firefox Property Management Inc., and spokesman for the Granite State Coalition Against Expanded Gambling
- Scott Spradling – president of the Spradling Group, a media relations company that represents Millenium Gaming, which hopes to develop a casino at Rockingham Park in Salem.
CALLOUTS:
- Richard Ames - Democratic representative of Jaffrey and chair of the New Hampshire Gaming Regulatory Oversight Authority, which recommended legislation that would license one casino and a regulatory framework designed to try to appease opponents.
- Mike Sielicki - president of the NH Association of Chiefs of Police, which opposes expanding gambling in the state
LINKS:
- NHPR's Brian Wallstin put together an outline of what makes this bill different from the one that failed in 2013