The tribal gambling compacts were approved by the Senate by a 35 to 7 vote. They have been sent on to the House of Representatives. They will be heard within the next three to four days. We are fighting an uphill battle and need your help.
Reasons the compacts should be rejected by the legislature:
- They keep the casinos open 24 hours per day, every day, instead of the 20 current hours during the week. For most casinos, this means keeping them open from 3:00 am to 7:00 am in the morning. Someone gambling on slots at 4:00 am in the morning during the week is the definition of a problem gambler. So the casinos are targeting problem gamblers to fill these hours. The very definition of predatory gambling supported by the state.
- All five tribes resisted an amendment that would have made them liable for injury caused by someone who had been sold too much alcohol at the gambling facility. They felt that rules that apply to Applebee’s or Chili’s shouldn’t apply to them.
- The casinos would have the legal right to extend internal credit (markers) to patrons in amounts over $10,000. In states across the U.S. (eg., Connecticut, Illinois, etc.) casinos have been able to go to court and put liens on debtors homes and attach their wages. The slogan for the program could be, “Reclaiming our land one mortgage at a time.”
- The new compacts would allow for five new casinos throughout the state., some full sized, some small or “legacy” casinos. We have TOO MANY CASINOS RIGHT NOW.
The legislature does not have the ability to amend these compacts once they get past the Committee on Compacts. They can only vote them up or down. They need to vote them down.
Please contact your State Representative ASAP, and ask them to vote against the compacts. If you do not know who your Representative is, the procedure below will help you discover who he/she is, and the telephone number to call is the legislative switchboard at 505-986-4300.
Ask the operator at the switchboard to connect to your State Representative’s office. You will most likely have to leave a message with their secretary. Probably the only question they will ask is your address, or if you live in their district. Make your message short and polite. Say something like, “Please ask Representative ____________ to vote against the tribal gambling compacts.” Then add any additional remarks you have to make.
To find out who your Representative is, along with their contact information, click here. Below “Name of Legislator,” click on “OR Search by Address.”
In the field “Enter address,” key in your home address, and then click on the “Search” button above. That will usually bring up the name of the Representative from your district and his/her picture. Click on the Representative’s name in the box, and it will open up their web page.
Then use the instructions above in calling them by telephone.
Please act as promptly as possible since the compacts could appear on the House Calendar within a couple of days.
Please forward this email to your contact list.
Thanks for your help.
Dr. Guy C. Clark, chairman Stop Predatory Gambling New Mexico