European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 1, 1978, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Gambling is its potential to Lead to other forms of crime to encourage organized forms of crime whether it be mafia or whatever you want to Call it. I suppose it is a moral feeling that gambling is bad and causes  in Connecticut a study funded by gaming regulators concluded the daily lottery Drew a disproportionate share of its participants from those who could least afford it. Although the trend seems to be towards More Gam bling attempts to expand legalized gambling in Montana and to approve parimutuel dog racing in West Virginia have failed in recent months. A referendum on parimutuel betting lost by a slim margin last Spring in Texas. Part of the reason for the jump in betting has Bee the increase in ways to Gamble that Are easy for the common citizen to take part in like state lotteries. In Many jurisdictions the state run games seek to Takeaway business from illegal numbers games run by organized crime although generally their payout is less than that being paid by Street operators. Parimutuel betting on horse and dog racing is responsible for much of the growth say gaming officials around the country. In California the amount annually bet on horse racing since 1970 has almost doubled. I would say there s been a growth of about 10 Percenta year in greyhound and horse racing said James j. Murphy executive Secretary of the Arizona state racing commission. Morrie Alhadeff president of the firm that operates Longacre Washington s largest Racetrack near Seattle where the handle is up 14 percent says the popularity of horse racing stems from its being available to the aver age wage earner. Horse racing is still relatively inexpensive entertain ment. Other professional sporting events charge from $15 Down to $5 a ticket. Our Price is Only $3.50 for the club House and $1.75 the grandstand he said. We Are operating on the Basic $2 betting increment which has been with us since 1938." Harold Campion Pennsylvania s Deputy horse racing commissioner said there s been a tremendous increase nationwide in the Money bet at race tracks with the average player wagering about $100 annually. But Bernard Hammer executive Secretary of the Pennsylvania harness racing commission says Al though the handle is growing it is because the traditional players Are betting More not because a larger number of people Are going to the track. While wagering on the ponies May be the Way Many Middle class players bet in some areas Inmany others the big thing Are weekend football games More pro than College authorities say. Much of the football betting comes in states where virtually All gambling is illegal. In Colorado where the Only Legal gambling is Bingo and Raffles de Jensen of the col Orado organized crime strike Force said there is year round bookmaking of sports football is the big Gest. One bookmaker caught was making $120,000 per weekend just one  in new Mexico one officer estimated $2 million is be illegally on professional football during the season. One middleman in Albuquerque who handles bets an passes them along said the average pro football bettor there punks Down about $200 a weekend. Pro sports betting in t confined to areas where there is relatively Little Legal gambling. In new Jersey where there Are lotteries horse racing and the Atlantic City Casino sports betting is still the biggest illegal Money maker according to capt. Carl Chiaventone chief of Testate police intelligence Bureau. Delaware tried legalizing betting on professional foot Ball from september through december 1976. The Experiment failed partly because the nation Al football league brought suit against the  state ultimately won but the publicity and delay precluded restarting the betting. While monday morning quarterbacks Lay their Money Down with the neighbourhood Bookie the High rollers go to Atlantic City to play Blackjack craps Roulette and the Slot machines. Only one Casino is open there and it probably will be close to a year until the second one begins operations Al though City leaders Hope eventually to have up to a dozen casinos open. There is Good news on the Revenue front. June the first full month of operations at the Atlantic City Casino oper ated by resorts International had a $93-million handle. And Nevada s casinos enjoyed a record busting Spring despite new Competition from new Jersey. The clubs re ported $457 million in winnings an increase of 22.2 per cent Over the april june period of 1977.Nevada gaming commission executive Secretary Irene Morros said the opening of the Casino in Atlantic City apparently did t make a Dent in Nevada s card and Dice Industry although historically Eastern gamblers live travelled to Las vegas. But new Jersey Law enforcement officials say that with the Money As Many experts predicted has come organized crime from nearby new York and  of their influence authorities said is in support industries such As beverages cigarettes Linen and Laun dry. The first indictments for cheating at the tables were returned in Early August. Law enforcement officials from coast to coast say organized crime is behind illegal gambling and May constitute the mob s largest Revenue source. In Chicago authorities say almost All illegal gambling is run by the outfit the local name for organized crime. The outfit is dominant in bookmaking said Stephen Schiller executive director of the Chicago crime com Mission. It is the dominant Factor in All kinds of  in Honolulu Law enforcement officials sing the Sam tune. Gambling is the very heart of the principal Money making venture of organized crime in Hawaii said former . Attorney Harold Fong. Hawaii county police chief Guy Paul says sports betting is a $2.3-million a Yea business on the Island of Hawaii alone and is the main source of underworld Revenue. Rhode Island state police superintendent Walter e. Stone said i testified before the Mcclellan committee on organized crime in 1963 before the . Senate that organized crime is supported financially by illegal Gam bling and i Haven t changed my feelings since  but federally financed studies contend numbers games and illicit bookmaking in new York Are relatively Small profit projects run by Independent operators. Despite the conflicts Over who is behind illegal Gam bling there is Little disagreement about its profits. In these Days of taxpayer revolts over1 higher levies some officials Are reconsidering legalization As a possible Rev Enue source. In California where proposition 13 slashed property taxes and has sent officials scrambling for new Revenue sources there Are two initiatives gaining support in Sig nature collection drives. But the process is slow and Nei ther will make the ballot this  would put the question of off track betting now Legal Only in new York and Connecticut on the ballot while the other would also allow California to establish state lottery. Several California cities Are also considering poker Parlours As a Revenue source. In Virginia where there is virtually no Legal gambling voters will decide this november whether to legalize parimutuel betting. But the biggest test will be in Miami Beach where voters will decide in november whether to allow betting on Roulette craps poker Blackjack and other games of Hance. The pro Casino drive is being backed by businessmen seeking to revitalize the tourist business. Gov. Reubi Askew opposes the plan and says he will devote most of his final months in office to stopping Casino gambling. We re going to organize the state like it never has been organized before to defeat it said Askew aide Pau Schnitt. In states with Little legalized gambling Bingo is the Only legitimate game in town. It is especially popular in the South and Southwest. Even in states where it in t Legal it seems to flourish and is generally ignored by the police. In Indiana state police capt. Robert Allen says Bingo is accepted and prosecution is rather hard to come  Bingo legalization drive is expected there in next year s legislature. In most states Bingo is Legal Only for non profit organizations such As churches or civic groups. Many areas have tightened their Laws in Hopes of eliminating Phon non profit groups. New York times americans cannot legally bet on most Spectator sports As Here in Las vegas. Sunday october 1, 1978 four states have legalized wagering on the Spanish game of Jai Alai. The stars and stripes Page 11