Analysis
By Cole Boehler
As predicted two years ago, the Gaming Research and Education Fund has run out of money...right on schedule.
The group, commonly known within the industry as "R&E", was formed six years ago as a collective gaming and liquor business response to a continuous stream of misinformation that circulated in media and elsewhere which served to discredit thousands of locally owned small family businesses licensed for adult beverage service or gaming.
Business owners and their association leaders agreed at the time that the one-sided and negative portrayal of the industry and its social effects lent support to those who would seek to damage or destroy the business through punitive laws or citizen initiatives.
Primarily funded by the Montana Tavern Association (MTA), The Gaming Industry Association (GIA), the Montana Coin Machine Operators Association (MCMOA) and Town Pumps, the non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation worked to publicize industry-backed programs that mitigate the effects of compulsive gambling and the benefits those programs were bringing to society.
Also contributing funding over the years was the video gaming machine manufacturing tier comprised of IGT, Summit, Spielo and Fleetwood.
R&E also strove to develop scientifically valid research on issues germane to licensed businesses, such as public opinion polls on liquor, gaming and smoking issues as well as quantifying the positive economic impacts of these businesses, especially employment opportunities and payrolls.
Finally, it sought to publicly disseminate the validated good news about the liquor and gaming business.
Some industry observers contended the effort was so successful that it's full mission was no longer pressing, and that business association funds could be more productively used elsewhere. Thus, funding was allowed to lapse in the short run with the predicted result.
So when the R&E Fund's board of directors met Feb. 12, it was resolved to once again approach sponsoring organizations for a cash infusion, although one substantially scaled back from the levels of two years ago to better fit its now reduced mission.
In essence, the board needs sufficient funds to, at minimum, continue to pay for the 24-hour toll-free problem gambling help hotline that has existed for almost a decade and the requisite advertising to direct those with a problem toward help.
In addition, the board voted to request funding to pay for the continuing operation and content updates of its web site.
The board also discussed several other projects it could undertake in order to further the aims and public image of businesses licensed for alcohol and gaming.
One week earlier, anticipating the needs of the R&E Fund, the GIA voted up to $18,000 to fuel the work of the group. And Town Pumps representatives were already on record backing additional funding. Representatives on the board from MTA and MCMOA was asked to approach their respective organizations with identical funding requests, and they agreed to do so when the associations meet in March and April.
The R&E board also conducted a "threat assessment" discussion that entailed evaluations of liquor, gaming, tax and compliance issues.
At its conclusion, the board voted Ronda Wiggers, representing MCMOA, as it's new chairman. Past chairman Rich Miller, who was also GIA executive director, announced his resignation at the Jan.. 31 GIA board meeting.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, March, 2008, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.