Guam Set to Vote on Gambling Legalization Initiative

HAGATNA, Guam - Today the final batch of signatures required for the initiative seeking to legalize slot machine gambling is expected to be submitted to the Guam Election Commission.

If the required number of signatures, around 5,000, is approved by the Election Commission, the issue will be included in this year's General Election ballot.

If the slot machine initiative makes it on the Nov. 3 ballot it won't mark the first time the island's feelings over legalized gambling have been expressed in a vote. In 2002, the Citizens for Economic Diversity, a group of several prominent local businessmen, introduced a proposition to legalize casino gambling in some of the island's largest hotels. Because the initiative (entitled `Proposition A`) was introduced too late in the year to place it on the ballot, it was - after much debate - included on the 2004 General Election ballot. The casino gambling initiative would have legalized and taxed casinos, set the gambling age at 21 and establish a paid commission to regulate casino gaming.

In the months leading up to the heavily discussed vote, residents engaged in islandwide debates over the many benefits and harms of legalized gambling. Controversy over the casino gambling issue spurred months of public awareness campaigns, student protests and media buzz.

In the end, however, the Proposition A failed by a margin of more than 7,800 votes during the 2004 General Election.

Unlike 2004's Proposition A, the slot machine gambling initiative does not aim to legalize any type of gambling other than slot machines, and will benefit one business institution, namely Guam Greyhound, the island's only dog racing track. 

However, a network of church, business, civic and other volunteers is gearing up for an anti-gambling campaign as the proposal to put the slot machine issue on the ballot this November appears inevitable. Jackie Marati, spokeswoman for anti-gambling group Lina`la Sin Casino, said if the proposal makes it to the ballot, a broad and diverse group of concerned citizens and leaders will be ready to mount opposition leading up to the general election. Archbishop Anthony Apuron, the leader of Guam's Catholic community, also has publicly opposed the slot machine initiative.