Monday's Wall Street Journal carried a story titled "Bad Odds: As more states look to win the economic jackpot with casinos, evidence suggests they are playing a losing hand."

The article describes the indirect costs of casinos and addresses a number of myths about the economic benefits of casinos. It asserts that unless the casino is drawing patrons from outside the region (as Las Vegas does), the overall effect is negative.

Although this article specifically addresses commercial rather than tribal casinos, the statistics still hold:

• as much as 50% of casinos' gaming revenues come from problem and pathological gamblers
• 8% of crime in casino counties is attributable to the casinos
• the introduction of a casino ultimately incurs an average net cost of at least $97 per resident per year

We strongly urge you to take a stand against allowing a casino in Clark County. Far from being an economic boon to the county, a mega-casino, such as the one proposed by the Cowlitz Tribe, will incur economic and social problems that far outweigh any benefits.