Have you ever wondered why casinos have so much money to lobby for their existence?

Have you ever wondered why casinos pay the local community and state government a percentage of their profits when most businesses, even large corporations, who want to do business in our community look for tax breaks, TIFs, grants, loans and other types of subsidizing? Have you ever wondered if these kickbacks to the local and state governments influence the regulators and police to do their oversight objectively?

Have you ever wondered why casinos must be located a certain distance from each other?

Have you ever wondered why casinos are so heavily regulated and not allowed to be subject to the free market?

Have you ever wondered why the saying “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” exists?

Have you ever wondered why some of the kickback money goes toward increased law enforcement and gambling addiction counseling?

Have you ever wondered how, not if or when, your family, friends and neighbors will be affected by a casino nearby?

Have you ever wondered if the jobs created will be enough to offset the heartbreaks? Have you ever wondered if it’s worth it?

Let us keep wondering and look into our hearts for the answer that is best for our community. One thing for sure that we shouldn’t wonder about is to go vote, no matter what your opinions of casinos are.

Laurier Thibault, Lewiston