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The report of protests against gambling [NATION, April 1] hit the jackpot! Fast-paced, highly addictive casino-type gambling is being pushed onto citizens by the industry and certain political officials across America. Thanks to leaders like activist Thomas Grey, efforts to legalize casinos, riverboats or slots at tracks are being thwarted. The coalition to block gambling extends to many business groups that understand that the discretionary dollar goes only so far. As people spend their money on new gambling games, they are less likely to go to restaurants and movies. CHRISTOPHER J. MCCABE, State Senator Annapolis, Maryland
Critics continually use contrived economic "models" to bolster their attacks against the gaming-entertainment industry. Actual statistical and empirical data from state and local jurisdictions that have adopted gambling show these so-called models to be totally unreliable and inaccurate. Once depressed communities are now enjoying economic growth and prosperity. For example, in Joliet, Illinois, the industry employs approximately 4,000 people with an annual payroll of $86 million, and in Tunica, Mississippi, 10,000 people with an annual payroll of $220 million. These jobs have helped reduce the demand on state and local governments for social-service assistance. Since 1992 Tunica has experienced a 29% drop in the number or residents receiving welfare payments. In New Jersey the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program was cut in half during the 10 years following the introduction of casino gaming in that state. The bottom line is that despite the false and misleading claims of its critics, the gaming entertainment industry has made significant contributions--both economic and social--to the communities where it operates. FRANK J. FAHRENKOPF JR. President and CEO American Gaming Association Washington
You compare the money spent in casinos with that spent on tickets for movies, theater, opera and concerts combined. If people choose to gamble for entertainment, is their enjoyment less legitimate than that of those who choose other types of recreation? If I enjoy going to a casino, is this somehow worse than spending the same amount of money to watch millionaire athletes play some game? ANN MCDONOUGH Kenosha, Wisconsin
WORDS FROM THE I-MAN
Before I heard the rebroadcast of the speech by radio host Don Imus at the Radio & TV Correspondents' Dinner in Washington [NOTEBOOK, April 1], but after I observed the negative media and political reaction, I concluded that the I-Man, my daily radio companion during my commute, had gone too far. After listening to a replay of his entire speech, however, I recommend that Imus be the required speaker at the event every year. Then, perhaps, media personalities and politicians at risk of exposure to his "aggressive" humor would take themselves less seriously and take the responsibilities of their public positions and standards of conduct more seriously. GILBERT W. SANBORN Weston, Connecticut
So guests at the Radio & TV Correspondents' Dinner were shocked at the mean mouth of Imus? Trash talk is his trademark. When a farm animal is invited to a banquet, don't be surprised if he shows up smelling like the barnyard. TOM HOPPENJAN Moline, Illinois
A DEATH TAPE-RECORDED