OVERALL - In 1996, out of 24 major battles over gambling legislation and referenda (in the U.S. Congress, 22 states, and the District of Columbia), gambling opponents won 23 and lost only 1. It is unlikely that any other national interest group can boast a better record of success this year.
REFERENDUM VOTES - Gambling opponents won statewide ballot questions in 7 states (AR, CO, LA, ND, OH, WA) while very narrowly losing only one (MI).
REFERENDA KEPT OFF BALLOT - Gambling opponents successfully challenged or scared off proposed pro-gambling ballot questions in 5 states (CA, FL, NE, OK, RI) and the District of Columbia.
LEGISLATION - Gambling opponents won every battle this year, in 12 states (AL, HA, IL, KS, MD, NE, NH, NM, VT, VA, WV, WI) as well as the U.S. Congress.
Arizona referendum - An initiative to force Governor Symington to negotiate tribal gambling compacts with five tribes was APPROVED by a margin of 63% to 37%. However, the Governor has said this vote does not bind him and he will continue to refuse to sign compacts.
Arkansas referendum - Amendment 4, a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize three casinos in Hot Springs, a state lottery and charity bingo was soundly DEFEATED by a margin of 61% to 39%.
Colorado referendum - A statewide referendum to legalize casino gambling in the city of Trinidad, about 15 miles north of the New Mexico border, was DEFEATED by a margin of 68% to 38%.
Louisiana referendum - Governor Mike Foster called a special session of the legislature where a bill was passed to allow voters to expel casinos and video poker machines from their parishes. 35 parishes voted to prohibit the video poker machines and 29 voted to keep them. Each of the casinos won elections to stay put. In addition, over a dozen parishes on waterways voted against accepting any future riverboat casino. It is estimated that the gambling industry outspent gambling opponents in this Louisiana election by a ratio of 100 to 1.
Michigan referendum - Proposal E, a referendum to legalize three gambling casinos in Detroit was narrowly APPROVED by a margin of 51% to 49%.
North Dakota referendum - On June 11, voters DEFEATED, by a margin of 68% to 32%, a constitutional amendment that would have legalized slot machines at bars, restaurants and hotels.
Ohio referendum - Issue 1, a constitutional initiative to legalize eight dockside casinos in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Lorain, Mahoning County and Hamilton County was DEFEATED by a margin of 62% to 38%.
Washington State referendum - Initiative 671 to legalize slot machines at tribal casinos was DEFEATED by a margin of 60% to 40%.
Florida proposed referendum - In 1996, Bally's casinos had approval from the state Supreme Court and enough signatures to place a casino amendment on the ballot, called "Florida Locally Approved Gaming" or "FLAG." After industry polls showed that the measure could not win, Bally's decided to WITHHOLD it from the ballot this year.
Nebraska proposed referendum - see below.
Oklahoma proposed referendum - After spending a million dollars to gather the signatures necessary to place on the ballot a referendum to legalize casinos, the pro-gambling lobby was STOPPED by a legal dispute over the wording of the referendum summary that would appear on the ballot.
Rhode Island proposed referendum - On September 9, the State Supreme Court STOPPED a statewide referendum to legalize casino gambling in Providence. The City Council had called for this referendum but the Mayor had vetoed the measure.
Washington, D.C. proposed referendum - A proposal to legalize riverboat casinos FAILED to make the ballot because organizers did not turn in sufficient signatures.
Alabama legislation - Gambling opponents once again DEFEATED bills to legalize casinos and a state lottery.
Hawaii legislation - Once again, gambling opponents DEFEATED in the state legislature numerous bills to legalize gambling of all types.
Illinois legislation - Gambling opponents once again BLOCKED bills to expand casino gambling into Chicago.
Kansas legislation - A greyhound track filed bankruptcy triggering Governor Bill Graves to urge the legislature to approve a constitutional amendment to authorize casinos. Opponents DEFEATED this proposal in the legislature.
Maryland legislation - State racetracks tried to legalize slot machines at tracks and off-track betting parlors. The legislation was soundly DEFEATED and Governor Glendenning announced that he would veto any casino or slot machine bill that might reach his desk, effectively killing chances for legalized gambling in 1997 and 1998.
Nebraska legislation and proposed referendum - A constitutional amendment to legalize slots at the tracks, LR 43, was DEFEATED on February 6 by a vote of 36 to 9. On September 12, it was ruled that two proposed gambling initiatives had failed to gather sufficient valid signatures.
New Hampshire legislation - Gambling opponents DEFEATED bills in the state legislature to legalize video lottery terminals at racetracks, bars and restaurants.
New Mexico legislation - Opponents DEFEATED a variety of pro-gambling bills designed to legalize tribal casinos, slot machines and charity gambling.
Vermont legislation - Gambling opponents DEFEATED a bill to legalize slot machines at racetracks.
Virginia legislation - Once again, gambling opponents soundly DEFEATED legislation to legalize riverboat casinos.
West Virginia legislation - The latest casino scheme, to legalize gambling at the Greenbrier resort, was WITHDRAWN by the sponsor after it became clear that the bill would lose.
Wisconsin legislation - A bill to legalize video poker machines at bars across the state was DEFEATED on the floor of the Assembly by a 2-to-1 margin. In a procedural vote, a majority of the Assembly also supported a constitutional amendment to prohibit gambling in Wisconsin, but that procedure failed because it required a 2/3rds vote.
Guam referendum - An initiative to legalize nearly unlimited casino gambling in the U.S. territory of Guam was DEFEATED by 73% to 27%. (NCALG helped the opponents in this contest.)
Indiana referendum - Voters in Marion County were asked to approve a new racetrack. (UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.)
Iowa referenda - Dallas County voters DEFEATED a riverboat by 58% to 42%. Muscatine County, which used to host a riverboat that subsequently left, DEFEATED the proposal for a new riverboat by 67% to 33%.
Mississippi referendum - Voters in DeSoto County DEFEATED a proposal to allow dockside casinos by 59% to 41%.
Missouri referendum - West Alton APPROVED a riverboat by approximately 2 to 1.
Virginia referendum - The tiny city of Manassas Park DEFEATED a proposed off- track betting parlor by 52% to 48% despite the fact that the racing industry spent more than $20 per vote on the campaign.
West Virginia election and referendum - The good news is that our friend Attorney General Darrell McGraw, who was targeted for defeat by the casino companies, WON reelection by 53% to 47%. The bad news is that Jefferson County APPROVED video lottery terminals at the Charles Town racetrack.
June 2, 1992 WEST SACRAMENTO Yes: 1,955 (27%) No: 5,264 (73%) August 4, 1992 FOWLER Yes: 694 (60%) No: 465 (40%) November 3, 1993 SANTA CLARA Yes: 14,508 (41%) No: 21,025 (59%) BARSTOW Yes: 2,349 (41%) No: 3,400 (59%) LONG BEACH Yes: 55,840 (46%) No: 64,447 (54%) NATIONAL CITY Yes 2,764 (33%) No: 5,584 (67%) HAWTHORNE Yes: 5,854 (37%) No: 10,296 (63%) ROHNERT PARK Yes: 6,067 (40%) No: 9,117 (60%) SAND CITY Yes: 28 (38%) No: 45 (62%) INGLEWOOD Yes: 13,234 (52%) No: 12,341 (48%) DESERT HOT SPRINGS Yes: 3,774 (54%) No: 3,180 (46%) February 9, 1993 COLMA Yes: 122 (52%) No: 114 (48%) *Note - Measure to overturn cardroom proposal and ban cardroom gambling in Colma defeated in May 14, 1996 election. June 8, 1993 CYPRESS Yes: 4,888 (36%) No: 8,673 (64%) PICO RIVERA Yes: 3,988 (49%) No: 4,197 (51%) STANTON Yes: 771 (20%) No: 3,028 (80%) WEST HOLLYWOOD Yes: 1,484 (30%) No: 3,421 (70%) DALY CITY Yes: 2,544 (33%) No: 5,171 (67%) November 2, 1993 BARSTOW Yes: 1,576 (45%) No: 1,945 (55%) August 9, 1994 SOUTH EL MONTE Yes: 447 (28%) No: 1,146 (72%) November 8, 1994 ALBANY Yes: 3,281 (51%) No: 3,095 (49%) December 13, 1994 BRISBANE Yes: 455 (32%) No: 959 (68%) April 18, 1995 POMONA Yes: 5,056 (49%) No: 5,365 (51%) *Note - Measure to overturn wardroom defeat scheduled for November 7, 1995 election. June 6, 1995 PICO RIVERA Yes: 4,104 (48%) No: 4,371 (52%) September 12, 1995 SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO Yes: 4,631 (44%) No: 5,864 (56%) October 24, 1995 IRWINDALE Yes: 192 (41%) No: 280 (59%) November 7, 1995 PALM SPRINGS Yes: 5,608 (62%) No: 3,415 (38%) COACHELLA Yes: 464 (61%) No: 293 (39%) HESPERIA Yes: 1,910 (31%) No: 4,318 (69%) POMONA Yes: 5,262 (45%) No: 6,452 (55%) ONTARIO Yes: 1,957 (22%) No: 6,859 (78%) SUISAN CITY Yes: 1,910 (50.1%) No: 1,906 (49.9%) SAN MATEO Yes: 6,758 (38%) No: 10,999 (62%) November 21, 1995 HAWAIIAN GARDENS Yes: 959 (57%) No: 722 (43%) December 12, 1995 AZUZA Yes: 1,339 (28%) No: 3,511 (72%) COLTON Yes: 1,425 (40%) No: 2,091 (60%) PACIFICA Yes: 1,163 (20%) No: 4,640 (80%) December 19, 1995 PERRIS Yes: 840 (46%) No: 970 (54%) LYNWOOD Yes: 680 (39%) No: 1,076 (61%) May 14, 1996 COLMA Yes: 162 (46%) No: 191 (54%) *Note: The measure to repeal authorization for a card club was defeated. The club will be allowed to proceed.