IMPORTANT TO JOIN THE DEBATE ON DESERT PARK GAMBLING
The debate is underway.
With the June 17 Osoyoos plebiscite on allowing gambling at a refurbished Desert Park racetrack now exactly one month away, the pro and con sides of the issue have begun to make themselves heard.
At the recent annual general meeting of the Osoyoos Now civic group, a few in the audience stood up to question whether the pitfalls of gambling addiction would be a heavy price to pay for opening up Desert Park not only to horse-race betting, but also to up to 100 slot machines and simulcast video horse-races from around North America.
Now, this week, a new storefront display is up-and-running, put on by Max Gibb, the track developer from Alberta who the town has asked to rebuild Desert Park. He and his staff have many persuasive reasons why the new track will be great for Osoyoos.
Admittedly, the local naysayers aren't numerous or loud. Even those who in principle oppose gambling are admitting that it now exists almost everywhere, so why fight it? And the benefits of a rejuvenated Desert Park facility, with its improved equestrian facilities for the local horse crowd, revenue spinoffs for local charities and projects, and the additional tourist draw of the 'racino', seem to many people to outweigh the problems.
Still, it's important that the debate take place. In this run-up to the plebiscite, let your neighbours, your town councillors, Gibb and others know what you think.
