This Time, No Headlong Rush

An upcoming car wreck grabs our attention.

A cautious roadside stop does not.

But this is a week for applauding a gentle halt. Gov. Gary Locke wants to slow the growth of the gambling industry.

He’s called for a moratorium on approving new gambling legislation and licensing any new casinos. He wants to create a “good, consistent public gambling policy.”

It’s time to pull out the road maps and make sure we’re headed in the right direction.

That’s exactly what should have happened in 1997, when legislators approved a new gambling law without bothering to read it.

Later, the governor admitted he should have vetoed the bill. Some lawmakers similarly questioned their haste.

The bill slid through the Legislature as a mere housekeeping measure. But the truth was that it suddenly allowed gambling to flourish in this state. Small card rooms opened Las Vegas-style house banks. They began running jackpots of $10,000 or more.

The money the industry takes in annually, minus the amount it pays out in winnings, rose 33 percent since 1996. The state now has 40 non-tribal casinos. That figure was expected to double by January 2000.

Lawmakers fell asleep at the wheel last time.

The governor’s new proposal gives everyone a chance to wake up and examine the consequences of relaxing the gambling laws.

When chronic gamblers stop paying their bills and declare bankruptcy, businesses are hurt.

When a gambler’s losses fuel anxiety and domestic violence or lead to suicide, families are hurt.

When gamblers and their families search for help, social service agencies are burdened. Currently, few programs exist specifically for problem gamblers. The Washington State Council on Problem Gambling runs a toll-free help line but offers no treatment.

These consequences, particularly in Spokane where prison parolees congregate and wages are low, can’t be ignored.

The governor, the Washington Legislature and the Gambling Commission should take this time to examine this issue more carefully. The economic and social costs of increased gambling should be studied. An important question must be asked: Wouldn’t other forms of economic growth benefit the state considerably more - at far less social cost?

It’s not too late to steer a wiser course. This rest stop should help clarify the path ahead.

An issue as important as gambling deserves thought, care and the simple gift of time. This year, let’s make sure it receives them all.