The opposition to establishing a gambling casino in Rockingham County near the Guilford County line has moved to Raleigh.
According to a press release from Citizens for Good Growth in Rockingham County, the organization has been established as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit. The purpose of the organization is “to promote economic development policies aimed at improving residents’ lives and growing our communities and businesses in healthy ways.”
The press release states, “A delegation of citizens from Rockingham County, Nash County, and other counties where casinos may be build or directly impacted under proposed state legislation” would be holding a press conference in Raleigh on Tuesday, Sept. 5 outside the North Carolina General Assembly Legislative Building.
Following the press conference people aligned with the organization planned to meet with legislators and their staffs.
Hundreds of those opposed to a casino in Rockingham County attended the meeting of the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners on Monday, Aug. 21 to oppose a request to rezone 192 acres along US 220 from Agricultural Residential to Highway Commercial. One of the permitted uses in the Highway Commercial zoning district is “electronic gaming operations.”
Despite the opposition, the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to rezone the property.
According to the press release, “affected landowners will be challenging in court the recent rezoning decision by the Board of Commissioners.”
The press release also states, “Citizens of these counties have grave concerns about the legalization of casino gambling and video lottery terminals. Through a significant deluge of lobbying and political donations, gambling companies have attempted to drown out the voices of everyday, local citizens opposed to casinos and video lottery terminals in their neighborhoods and communities. Local citizens, with various political backgrounds, have banded together to make their voices heard.”
No bill has been introduced in the legislature to expand the legality of casino gambling in the state beyond those that are currently located on Native American tribal lands. However, a draft bill that will legalize gambling in three counties Rockingham, Nash and Anson has been making the rounds, and many people say that the plan is to include the legislation in the state budget bill.
A very bad precedent coming from people who are already accepting “donations” for their personal careers from promoters.
A casino in Rockingham County would be the best and biggest thing to have ever happened in that County. Thousands of jobs, many additional businesses and millions of dollars. So good for the economy. These people obviously have never seen a casino, been in one or seen the benefits. They also need to remember that no one makes anyone go into a casino.
Obviously you’ve never lived in the vicinity of a casino! All that positive sounding propaganda is a bunch of BS put forth by out of state casino owners, whose sole interest is in becoming richer at the expense of the locals. I worked in a casino in Cripple Creek , Colorado for 7 years, and I know first hand what I’m talking about. Casinos opened in 3 historic small towns on the Eastern slope in 1992. Several years later a town or 2 on the Western slope decided( or were persuaded) to try casinos. They were turned down by Colorado voters 4 to 1! I could write a book on the subject, but suffice it to say YOU DON’T WANT CASINOS ANYWHERE NEAR YOU! Leave them to the Cherokee Nation, who seem to have them under tight control.
Got any numbers to back any of that up?
There are a lot of misconceptions about casinos and alot of it comes from movies not reality. Cherokee has had one for many years and the crime rate there is low
Amen!
It’s interesting that the state went to all the trouble to outlaw sweepstakes stuff only to turn around and push for these electronic casinos which are essentially big sweepstakes parlors.