Gambling supporters "wait 'til next year"

Tom Fahey reports in the Union Leader that supporters of expanded gambling didn't get what they wanted in the state budget, but are taking Governor John Lynch's last minute offer to study the issue as a sign of growing gambling momemtum:

Lynch said he will appoint a gambling study commission soon to look at the expansion of gambling and issues like who should control it, own it, the number of sites and ways to prevent proliferation.

Killion said Millennium Gaming's plans are unchanged for Rockingham, where it owns an option to buy the track and set up video slot machines. It calls for a major construction project and upgrade of the horse track, with the state getting 49 percent of slot revenues.

Meanwhile, the Concord Monitor editorializes against slots, citing the experience of other states that rely on gambling revenue:

Las Vegas casinos aren't the only ones to crap out. The Trump Casino in Atlantic City filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, and The Donald and his daughter resigned from the board of Trump Entertainment Resorts.

This week, Rhode Island's Twin River greyhound and slots parlor folded a financial hand that can no longer be played in this economy. The racino can't pay the mandatory 61.5 percent of its take to the state and pay off its creditors too, so it filed for bankruptcy.