GOVERNOR MARTINEZ EXPANDS GAMBLING IN NEW MEXICO BY SIGNING NEW TRIBAL GAMBLING COMPACTS
The governor and the tribal leaders had an official signing ceremony to celebrate one of the last steps on the way to obtain new tribal gambling compacts for the four tribes, whose old compacts expire in June, and one tribe (Jemez) who has not previously had a compact. The next steps are for the Department of the Interior to approve the compacts and put them in the federal register.
The new compacts will make it possible to expand the number of tribal casinos in the states from the 25 current casinos to 31. They will also be able to expand operating hours from 20 to 24 on week-nights. They also will be able to give gamblers “markers” or credit for $10,000 or more. In Connecticut and Illinois casinos have put liens on mortgages of gamblers who did not make their payments in time. they also have been attaching salaries of tardy gamblers with loans from the casinos.
An article in the Monday, April 12, 2015 Albuquerque Journal gives additional information.
All of these changes increase the predatory nature of the casinos, which were already pretty predatory. The casino compacts have an expiration year of 2037. However, Stop Predatory Gambling New Mexico believes that the tribes will revolt against the casinos and their money-driven leaders when the social damage becomes more palpable.
A sad day for New Mexico.
Picture is of Dr. Guy Clark
