[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 38 (Thursday, March 30, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          THE GAMING INDUSTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ROBERT W. NEY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 30, 2000

  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, you hear many arguments surrounding the gaming 
industry in America. Some have merit, some do not. Some criticism is 
deserved, some is not. Mr. Speaker, before I make my statement today I 
want to make it abundantly clear that while I am not an ardent 
proponent of the gaming industry nor an ardent foe of the gaming 
industry, I am an ardent foe of illegal activity in the gaming 
industry. Furthermore, I am an ardent support of consumer rights and 
consumer rights is exactly what I intend to discuss today.
  At the heart of my comments today is how certain gaming companies 
treat their patrons and how they conduct business. I believe that the 
vast majority of casino owners play by the rules, treat their patrons 
fairly, and provide quality entertainment for individuals and families. 
I have talked with many of these businessmen over the years who have 
conducted themselves in such a professional manner. However, there are 
a few bad apples out there who don't play by the rules and that is just 
plain wrong.
  One such example is the case of Suncruz casino's based out of 
Florida. Florida authorities, particularly Attorney General Butterworth 
have repeatedly reprimanded Suncruz casinos and its owner Gus Boulis 
for taking illegal bets, not paying out their customers properly and 
has had to take steps to prevent Suncruz from conducting operations all 
together. In fact, a few years ago the Broward County Sheriffs Office, 
under the supervision of Mr Butterworth, raided Suncruz ships seizing 
their equipment.
  Mr. Speaker, how Suncruz Casinos and Gus Boulis conduct themselves 
with regard to Florida laws is very unnerving. But the consumer rights 
issue is even more disheartening. On December 1, 1998 the Broward 
County Sheriffs department announced that they had uncovered evidence 
that dealers on SunCruz ships were ``cheating passengers by using 
incomplete decks of cards.'' This type of conduct gives the gaming 
industry a black eye and should not be tolerated.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to repeat myself again. The vast majority of 
casino owners and operators are good honest people, but when an owner 
or operator stoops to this level to make a buck it hurts the public and 
it hurts the industry as a whole. I believe we can strike a balance 
here and our first step is to ensure that the average citizen is not 
hoodwinked by a dishonest casino operator.
  There should be clear codes of conduct that are adhered to by every 
casino owner and operator. On the Ohio River we have gaming interests 
that run clean operations and provide quality entertainment. I don't 
want to see the actions of one bad apple in Florida, or anywhere else 
to affect the business aspect of this industry or hurt any innocent 
casino patron in our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that steps will be taken by the industry, and in 
the case of lawbreakers- by the appropriate authorities to weed out the 
bad apples so that we can protect consumers across the country.

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