The Virginian-Pilot 
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, December 10, 1994            TAG: 9412090029
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   49 lines

RIVERBOAT GAMING IS DIFFERENT

I read with interest the recent article concerning Portsmouth City Council's decision to support riverboat gaming in Virginia. Bill Kincaid of Virginians Deserve Better attended this meeting and gave inaccurate testimony about various aspects of riverboat gaming.

I have debated Mr. Kincaid's organization on several occasions. His arguments relate to all forms of gaming, including land-based casinos, lotteries, horse racing, off-track betting parlors, etc. In the reports cited, riverboats are hardly mentioned because riverboats are indeed an entertainment-oriented gaming venue.

The riverboat-gaming bill introduced by Del. Jerrauld Jones of Norfolk is modeled after highly successful Illinois legislation. This involves a limited number of cruising riverboats that have a high tax rate and generally require a boarding fee and reservations.

Riverboats are much different from land-based gaming attractions. In fact, in May 1994, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority issued a report which indicated that riverboat enterprises currently in operation in Illinos are relatively small, the actual gaming occurs away from land, and there tends to be little if any possibility of a criminal subculture springing up around the boat or the docks. A Virginia State Police report confirmed these findings for jurisdictions that have riverboat-gaming operators.

There are significant economic benefits associated with riverboats, including shipyard jobs, riverboat jobs, multimillion-dollar economic-development projects and creation of voluntary tax revenues for the state and host localities.

The riverboat-gaming bill requires a referendum. We would hope that legislators would let the people decide this issue.

THOMAS M. MOUNTJOY

Member, executive committee

Virginia Riverboat Council

Norfolk, Dec. 5, 1994 MEMO: Editor's note: Mr. Mountjoy is general partner and premium owner of

Annabel Lee, a dining entertainment vessel based in Richmond.

KEYWORDS: RIVERBOAT GAMBLING

by CNB