Prop B Forum

Proposal B, the proposal to bring slot machines to Guam Greyhound Racetrack, held a forum yesterday to discuss the proposal. Supporters and opponents each got a chance to be heard, and those that were trying to make up their minds as to how to vote got an earful.

Jon Anderson, spokesperson for Guam Greyhound, said that by bringing slot machines to the racetrack they would be bringing in jobs and slot machine revenue that would benefit Guam. He said that slots opponents were just trying to instill fear in voters, and were trying to get them to look at the bad side of gambling only. They are claiming that they will bring in millions in slot machine revenue as well as 500 jobs to the industry. The group showed a presentation of how the area would be revitalized by bringing in the slot machines, and how much it would help them to approve it.

The opponents, led by Jackie Marati, hit back hard. They said that the amount of money that the group is planning on bringing in is almost impossible. She said that the $3 million they are claiming would only be brought in once $300 million in bets are made. She also said that most slot machine operators have to pay 30% of their slot machine revenue to the government, and wanted to know why Guam Greyhound was only paying 10%. She said that there would be jobs lost by bringing in slot machines, and the 500 that would be created would come from somewhere else. She said that the slot machines would end up costing revenue from other smaller businesses, and that the proposal would not be a positive step for Guam.

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