Rockaway Beach: Riverboat casino amendment depends on statewide vote

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by Jill Henry|ret||ret||tab|

SBJ Reporter|ret||ret||tab|

jhenry@sbj.net|ret||ret||tab|

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While new residents, businesses and tourists continue to migrate to Branson and Christian County, nearby Rockaway Beach, a town of 577, waits for a statewide vote in November that may help revitalize the quiet resort town. |ret||ret||tab|

A $100 million riverboat casino a partnership between Prime Inc.'s Robert Low and Southwest Casino and Hotel Corp. under a new entity, Southwest Missouri Gaming LLC would bring jobs, tourists and revenue to the community if approved, according to supporters. |ret||ret||tab|

Currently, the Missouri Constitution allows riverboat gaming on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. The proposed amendment would allow riverboat casinos "on or adjacent to the White River in Rockaway Beach."|ret||ret||tab|

The casino, Low said, "would be a tremendous shot in the arm for Rockaway Beach and Taney County and, for that matter, southwest Missouri." He anticipates bringing 1,000 year-round jobs with benefits to the town, along with an estimated 3 million tourists annually. |ret||ret||tab|

In addition, 50 percent of revenues generated each year would be used for teacher salaries and capital improvements for priority schools, defined as unaccredited or provisionally accredited school districts, districts with one or more academically deficient schools, and schools in accredited districts that do not meet at least one of the academic performance standards measured by the Missouri Assessment Program. |ret||ret||tab|

The amendment states annual direct gaming revenue generated would "range from $39.9 to $49 million for the state and $10.2 million to $12.4 million for the local government, subject to local voter approval and licensing by the State Gaming Commission. The amount of indirect revenue or expense, if any, is unknown."|ret||ret||tab|

Ellen Brown, owner of The Beach House Catfish Caf, is excited about the possible casino and what it could mean for Rockaway Beach. "None of the businesses here can survive on local trade. We've got to have outside people coming in for the business, whether it be tourists or surrounding communities." |ret||ret||tab|

On March 3, 190,182 signatures were submitted to the Secretary of State's Office, in favor of placing the constitutional amendment allowing riverboat gambling on the ballot. Provided that at least 123,469 signatures are certified, Missourians will have the chance to vote on the issue in November.|ret||ret||tab|

Silver Dollar City co-owner Peter Herschend objects to the proposed constitutional amendment and compares gambling to cancer. |ret||ret||tab|

"We've got to keep it from spreading," Herschend said. "Rockaway is simply an example of cancer spreading. My issue is not Rockaway Beach the real issue is how do we keep gambling from being pervasive in Missouri."|ret||ret||tab|

Gambling, Herschend said, can lead to problems such as addiction and "story after story of men and women who have quite literally gambled their homes and their lives away." In general, Herschend said, the person who gambles is the person who can least afford to gamble. |ret||ret||tab|

Low, who owns The Palace Casino in Biloxi, Miss., said people should be able to decide how to spend their entertainment dollars.|ret||ret||tab|

"It's more than just about (gaming)," Low said. "In our experience, gaming increases tourism, will bring more tourists to Taney County and to Branson and to Rockaway, and then create more revenue and more customers for all the tourist-related businesses. A rising tide lifts all the boats, so to speak."|ret||ret||tab|

Herschend acknowledged that casinos have the ability to create new jobs. "But what you have to look at is the net, not the gross," he said. "How many new jobs are actually created, because that is corollary to the number of jobs that go away in restaurants and hotels and smaller businesses, not just in Rockaway, but obviously in the entire economic community." |ret||ret||tab|

The people of Rockaway Beach started the initiative to bring the riverboat casino to town, according to Low. "They looked for different ways to improve the economy and their local community and finally decided on gaming after looking at a couple other industries, such as manufacturing, unsuccessfully." |ret||ret||tab|

A poll of residents in October 2001 showed overwhelming support, with 370 in favor and 12 against asking the state to consider allowing gambling in the area. In November 2001, residents voted 120-56 to pass a nonbonding resolution to "pursue legislation to permit excursion boat gambling within the Rockaway Beach city limits." |ret||ret||tab|

Rockaway Beach's 38-member Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution to support the economic development that the casino would bring to the area, said Lo Flint, events coordinator for the chamber. |ret||ret||tab|

Herschend, however, insists gambling is not a one-town issue. "It isn't a Rockaway issue. I can make the argument it's a southwest Missouri issue, but it is certainly broader than just the city limits of Rockaway."|ret||ret||tab|

If the amendment doesn't pass in November, Low said, "We'll just keep trying."|ret||ret||tab|

Meanwhile, Rockaway Beach has scheduled improvements, including hauling in sand to recreate a sandy beachfront and installing fountains to aerate and circulate the White River's water."We're still trying to bring the town back, whether the casino comes in or not," Flint said. "So far, (the casino) has been the only answer that would help us continue on."|ret||ret||tab|

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