Casino Returns to Guam Festival

As reported by the Pacific Daily News: "Casino gambling will make a return to this year's government-run Liberation Day carnival, ending a three-year ban by the current administration and possibly allowing the carnival to turn a profit for the first time since the ban.

"Gov. Felix Camacho, who has promoted the carnival as a family event, yesterday said he banned the casino concession during the past few years because it had become the dominant attraction of the annual celebration.

"…Smaller gambling concessions, including bingo, a dice game and a color-guessing game, have been allowed each year, and the Liberation Committee has sold $5 scratch-and-win raffle tickets to raise money.

"Camacho said he decided to give the casino concession 'a shot' this year after his Guam Museum Foundation approached his Liberation Committee with a proposal to use the casino to benefit a new Guam museum, the Angel Santos Memorial Park in Hagåtña and the Guam Baseball Federation.

"…The Liberation Committee's share of the casino money could allow the carnival to turn a profit for the first time in years, which means money would be available to purchase public school textbooks and to donate to non-profit organizations…"

2006-06-13