Local reps warry about video poker

By Susan Morse
smorse@seacoastonline.com SEABROOK - Seabrook's state representatives are cautiously approaching the idea of video poker at the state's four race tracks, including the Seabrook Greyhound Park.

Richard Morris called the state Legislature's proposal to legalize video gaming machines a "common sense approach to raise a huge amount of revenue to put a dent in the state deficit."

But it needs to be done right, he said.

"This third element everyone talks about, gambling associated with drugs and prostitution," he said. "We need to tread cautiously."

Should his constituents resist gambling, Morris said, "then I'm going to jump on their bus."

The New Hampshire Police Chiefs Association has long opposed expanded gambling, said Seabrook Police Chief David Currier.

"I would want to know the effects on the community, adverse effects such as crime," he said.

Yankee Greyhound Track has been a "good neighbor" to the town, said Currier.

"If for some reason the Legislature puts in gambling over protest of the chiefs," he said, "I would expect to work well with the track."

The town would likely not see much benefit from the additional revenue to the track, said E. Albert Weare, R-Seabrook. Weare said he's not against video gaming per se. His concern is how it will be done.

Rep. Ben Moore, R-Seabrook said the issue was more involved than video poker.

"There's other forms of gambling which should be controlled too," he said. "Before we legalize video gambling there's a lot of illegal places with video poker games."

For instance, he said, there's discussion in Concord about controlling poker tournaments.

Before he would support expanded gambling, Moore said, the state would have to include a provision that the townspeople where the racetracks are located would be able to vote whether to bring video gambling to town.

"Everything would have to be done under local control of the community," said Moore.

Frank Palazzo, R-Seabrook, said, "I'm not against video gambling. I'm against it becoming a mom-and-pop deal with distributors around the state. I wouldn't mind if it's at the racetracks, a few places. If you start knocking it down to hotels, then you got a problem."

Yankee Greyhound Racing Inc. President Edward Keelan could not be reached for comment.

Earlier this week, Senate President Tom Eaton and Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, a Manchester Democrat, said putting state-operated video poker machines at the four race tracks would raise $200 million a year for the state.

Gov.-elect John Lynch estimated the state faces a $300 million budget shortfall. Lynch has ruled out a tax hike.

D'Allesandro sponsored a bill to allow video poker at the state's four racetracks.

Eaton said he might support adding the gaming machines to the state's grand hotels.