Casino Chinatown

Washington Governor Fights Cowlitz Tribe Casino

"I hate gambling," Governor Chris Gregoire said. "It's evil. We now have a problem in this state with gaming addiction." Indeed, a problem in Southwest Washington could easily get worse with the proposed construction of a huge new casino, with its hundreds of noisy, colorful slot machines, craps and blackjack tables, roulette wheels and video poker games.

The debate about the Cowlitz tribe's proposed mega-casino near La Center tends to get all wrapped up in Northwest Indian history and on the potential impact on the economy, politics, highways, sewers, schools and on the natural environment.

The spotlight sometimes passes over a less-visible issue. Gov. Chris Gregoire put the spotlight on that issue during a trip to Vancouver on Thursday.

Gregoire said "Along with such man-made Washington icons as the Space Needle, Grand Coulee Dam and the state ferries, would be Clark County's entry: A temple along Interstate 5 for the development and encouragement of gambling addicts, one that tears at the fabric of family life while it fosters bankruptcy, unemployment, welfare caseloads and lost earning potential."

The Washington State Council on Problem Gambling's estimates 5 percent of Washington adults are or have been problem gamblers and 8.4 percent of the state's teenagers either are now or are "at risk of becoming problem gamblers."

Many organizations now help aid the problem gamblers.

Gambling problems from mild to severe, with "the terms 'compulsive', 'pathological' and'addictive' gambling all (referring) to a serious mental disorder characterized by out of control gambling resulting in severe negative personal, family, financial, work and/or legal consequences."