By Dave Thompson
Bismarck, ND – A constitutional amendment to allow casino gambling anywhere in North Dakota has failed in the North Dakota House.
Right now North Dakota has five gambling casinos on its Native American reservations. The amendment would have allowed more casinos to be built -- off Indian reservation land.
Grand Forks Representative Mike Grosz sponsored the amendment. He says it would make for more cultural and entertainment opportunities in the state. And Grosz argues that the five casinos only attract in-state players.
"Instead of strategically locating casinos so that only North Dakotans can play, wouldn't it make more sense to allow capitalism to locate casinos to maximize business opportunities -- capitalizing on Canada, Minnesota, South Dakota and Montana and other tourism ossibilities?"
But the House defeated the amendment on a 65-to-25 vote.