First, the intent of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was to support economic development and job creation for Native Americans. A gambling casino located 300 miles south of the reservation violates the very intent of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act because it will not create jobs for tribe members. More important, even the THREAT of the approval of an off-reservation casino will disrupt further investment by taxpayers in an area that cannot tolerate disinvestment.
However, what the gambling proposal would do is pave the way for the destruction of tax revenues for the State of New Mexico as well as the city of Sunland Park and surrounding areas in Southern Dona Ana County. Countless businesses such as restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores, retailers, and many others will suffer from the astonishing competitive disadvantages created. Many taxpaying businesses would soon cease operations if the Jemez casino were ever allowed to go forward. And city, county, and state governments would lose millions of dollars in tax revenue. The reasons why there will be widespread economic destruction are simple and straight-forward.• Since tribe-owned businesses pay no gross receipts taxes, the city of Anthony and Dona Ana County would experience a significant decline in revenue from gross receipts tax.
• Since tribe-owned businesses do not pay excise taxes on alcohol or tobacco products, the off-reservation casino would in effect receive a unique subsidy to market tobacco and alcohol products. And naturally, government revenue coffers that normally receive so-called “sin tax” revenues would suffer significant shortfalls.
• Since tribes pay no property taxes, the state, the City of Anthony, and Dona Ana County would experience a significant decline in revenue from this source as the tax-advantaged casino would squeeze out taxpaying property owning businesses in the area.
• Tens of millions of dollars are already invested in land and facilities for horse farms and breeding operations all over the state. These operations would suffer devastating impact due to declining purse structures at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
• The social damages caused by gambling are well known. The incidence of bankruptcy, domestic violence, child abuse, and drunken driving can be expected to rise significantly in Anthony and surrounding areas if the application for an off-reservation casino is approved.• Revenue available for state lottery educational scholarships will be negatively impacted by an approval of the off-reservation casino application.
• State tax revenue collections from Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino will fall dramatically if an off-reservation casino application is approved. The job losses to the area would be devastating.
• Mr. Fulton has earmarked a permanent 50% ownership stake in Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino to New Mexico State University upon his death. The annual revenue from this bequest to NMSU is estimated to be well in excess of $12 million per year. Approval of the Jemez off-reservation casino application would effectively destroy a substantial portion if not all of the value of the largest bequest in the history of NMSU.
