To Gamble, or Not To Gamble

Every few years, come election time, the same issue keeps coming back around.  And, man, are we ever divided on this issue?  The issue is Riverboat Gambling.  The feelings run deep on both sides of the issue, like the old White River in flood stage.  On the one hand, there is the decades old tradition of Family Entertainment in the Branson area.  On the other hand, is the prospect of new business, new markets from which to draw tourists, new tax revenue streams, new jobs, and the potential revival of a town left adrift in the remains of a once bustling tourist economy of its own:  Rockaway Beach.  Let me say right here and now that I am against gambling, in general, and in the Branson area in particular.  That said……….

 

The story of Rockaway Beach, Missouri is a sad one.  In the 1930's, 40's, 50’s and even 60’s it was the tourism capital of the Ozarks, not Branson.  But with the construction of Table Rock Dam on the old White River in the late 1950’s, Lake Taneycomo at Rockaway Beach changed from a warm water, swimmer/skier haven of a lake to a cold water, trout fishing lake.  The swimmers & skiers relocated to the bigger, and warmer, Table Rock Lake, leaving Rockaway Beach, MO with the tourism leftovers.  The town, or what’s left of it, has been trying to regain their tourism edge ever since, with less effect than they’d like.  That’s why they have pursued Riverboat Gambling, the approval of which requires a statewide vote.  And each time it’s been on the ballot, it’s been voted down.

Now, rumor has it that the last time it failed was because of all the “No” votes coming out of St. Louis and Kansas City, each of which already have Riverboat Gambling.  It doesn’t take a genius to see why it would benefit their economies to keep that business exclusively to themselves, rather than to allow the Branson/Rockaway Beach area to steal a piece of that particular pie.  As I said earlier, I am against allowing gambling in the Branson/Rockaway Beach area.  But I have serious questions about Missouri allowing Kansas City or St. Louis to reap the economic benefit of Riverboat Casinos, while preventing Rockaway Beach, Missouri, from attempting to reap those same benefits.  There’s definitely something inequitable about that.  And that doesn’t sit well with me.  How can the rules of commerce in two parts of Missouri, Kansas City and St. Louis, not apply equally to all parts of Missouri?  Equal protection?  Not exactly.  Sounds more like discrimination to a layman, like myself.

Many residents of Taney County are staunchly opposed to allowing Riverboat Gambling in this area.  And many among those opposed are the most powerful people in this area, with big budgets to promote Branson’s continued family only image.  Contrary to the way my earlier comments may read, I am one of those opposed to gambling.  Branson is a wonderful place for “Family Entertainment.”  When a family comes to Branson, they needn’t worry about whether some of the shows are suitable for their kids.  They are.  They all are.  And that is one of the truly special things about the Branson area.  It’s wholesome.  It’s safe.  It’s relatively free from the seedy underbelly of crime that some say will accompany the gambling and the gamblers.  Family entertainment is Branson’s brand.  And I’m all for that, and for all that goes with it.  I’m just not sure how far that opinion should go toward limiting someone else’s enterprise.  It is a question to ponder.