It’s in the Cards: Gambling in California

Re “California on Path to Become Nation’s Gambling Capital,” Aug. 25: With a mega-casino in the planning stages near San Francisco, how long will it take to find great locations in Southern California for casinos? I can think of several off hand, such as Rancho Palos Verdes (Marineland), Pacific Palisades or even Beverly Hills.

The precedent has been set, and it looks like the Golden State will eventually out-glisten the Silver State with Californians staying home and losing their paychecks at local casinos while Sacramento reaps the cash as well.

It could very well be a win-win situation, especially with the Indians teaming up with all the major Vegas casino companies to build little Taj Mahals everywhere.

Who knows, perhaps even a light-rail line connection?

Michael L. Friedman

Torrance

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Re “The Trouble With Casinos,” editorial, Aug. 21: Your editorial says that the state will receive 25% of the gambling revenues. Is that net revenues or gross revenues? Your Aug. 21 front-page article “Governor Pushes for Action on His Last-Minute Legislation” quotes state Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica): “The compacts say the state gets up to 25% of net revenues.” That is not an acceptable agreement. The governor rolled over for the prison guards union and signed a bad agreement for the taxpayers. Has he done the same thing with the tribes?

Stuart A. Riddle

Manhattan Beach