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A referendum on legalising casinos and slot machines was held in Guam on 16 April 1977, [1] alongside elections to a Constitutional Convention and the Board of Education. [2]
The proposals were rejected by around three-quarters of voters, [3] with voter turnout at around 53%. [2]
Bills legalising a government-owned casino and allowing slot machines in controlled areas of the transit lounge at Guam International Airport were approved by the Legislature in 1976. Both laws were vetoed by Governor Ricardo Bordallo, who was opposed to gambling. As a result, a referendum was held on the proposals, with voters asked whether they approved of three separate proposals; allowing unlimited legalised casinos, allowing one government-owned casino, and legalising slot machines. [2]
A pro-gambling campaign called Ayuda Guam ("Help the Island") was established by a group of businessmen. It spent around $100,000 on its campaign, sending out direct mails, running advertisements in newspapers, radio and television, and hiring a political consultant from the United States who had been credited with helping legalise gambling in Atlantic City. [2]
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agaña and Bishop of Guam Felixberto Camacho Flores opposed the operation of casinos, claiming it would increase crime and gambling addiction. [3]
General elections were held in Guam on November 2, 2004 in order to elect all 15 members of the legislature, the federal delegate, mayors of 14 cities, vice mayors of three cities, the public auditor, the Consolidated Commission on Utilities, two judges of the Superior Court, running for retention and the Guam Public Education Policy Board. Voters also voted on the President of the United States although the territory sent no representatives to the electoral college. There was also a referendum on allowing gambling, which was rejected by voters.
A racino is a combined race track and casino. In some cases, the gambling is limited to slot machines, but many locations are beginning to include table games such as blackjack, poker, and roulette.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is a casino, hotel and thoroughbred horse racing complex located in Charles Town, West Virginia, 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Washington D.C. It is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Penn Entertainment.
In the United States, gambling is subject to a variety of legal restrictions. In 2008, gambling activities generated gross revenues of $92.27 billion in the United States.
General elections were held in Guam on November 7, 2006, in order to elect the governor, all 15 seats in the Legislature and the federal delegate. There was also a double referendum on legalise slot machines at racing tracks and raising the age at which citizens could purchase and consume alcohol to 21.
Most forms of gambling in Japan are generally banned by the Criminal Code chapter 23; however, there are several exceptions, including betting on horse racing and certain motor sports.
Referendums in Taiwan at both the national and local level are governed by the Referendum Act of Taiwan, which was enacted by the Legislative Yuan in December 2003. Citizens can propose laws via referendums at the national and local levels. The Referendum Act also allowed people to make changes or abolish laws by referendums.
Gambling in Pennsylvania includes casino gambling, the Pennsylvania Lottery, horse racing, Bingo, and small games of chance conducted by nonprofit organizations and taverns under limited circumstances. Although casino gaming has been legal for less than two decades, Pennsylvania is second only to Nevada in commercial casino revenues.
A referendum on legalising casino establishments was held in Palau on 22 June 2011. The proposal was rejected by 75.5% of voters.
Twelve national referendums were held in Switzerland during 2012. On 11 March voters across the country were asked five questions on employment leave, second houses, building society savings, the Fixed Book Price Agreement and gambling revenues. On 17 June there were three questions on healthcare, foreign policy and home buying. On 23 September there were three on a smoking ban, secure housing in old age and music lessons at school. A final referendum was held on 25 November on the Animal Diseases Act.
A referendum on legalising slot machines at greyhound racetracks was held in Guam on 5 January 2008. The proposal was rejected by 63% of voters.
A series of four referendums on casinos and senators was held in Guam on 5 November 1996. A reduction of the number of senators from 21 to 15 passed, but proposed term limits for senators failed. Voters approved a measure limiting the budget for parliamentary business to 2.5% of the national budget, and rejected a proposal to permit casinos to open on the island.
A referendum on allowing casino gambling was held in the United States Virgin Islands on 3 November 1992. The result was binding only if a majority of registered voters participated. The proposal was rejected by a narrow margin, but was later approved in a 1994 referendum.
A referendum on legalising web shops and establishing a national lottery was held in the Bahamas on 28 January 2013. Both proposals were rejected by voters.
Eleven national referendums were held in Switzerland during 2013. Voters approved six proposals related to spatial planning, executive pay, family policy, amendments to the laws on asylum and epidemics and an increase in the length of petrol station shop opening hours. The other five proposals on directly electing the Federal Council, abolishing compulsory military service, limiting salaries in a company to 12 times the lowest paid worker, tax credits for stay-at-home parents and an increase in road tax were rejected.
Gambling in Taiwan is prohibited by the Criminal Code of the Republic of China. State-run lotteries, like the Uniform Invoice lottery, are the only legal form of gambling on mainland Taiwan. The construction of casinos on some off-shore islands was legalized in 2009, though to date none have been built. Some gambling-style games are allowed either on special days or under special restricted circumstances.
Maine Question 1, formally An Act To Allow Slot Machines or a Casino in York County, was a citizen-initiated referendum question that appeared on the November 7, 2017, statewide ballot in Maine. It sought to award a license for the construction and operation of a casino in York County, Maine by a qualified entity as spelled out in the proposed law, with tax revenue generated by the casino to go to specific programs. The wording of the proposed law effectively permitted only one company, Capital 7, to be awarded the license. The ballot measure was defeated, with 83% of voters opposing it.
A referendum on partially legalising abortion was held in Gibraltar 24 June 2021. It had originally been scheduled for 19 March 2020, but was postponed on 12 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal was approved by 63% of voters.
A constitutional referendum was held in Liechtenstein on 29 January 2023. Voters voted on a proposal to ban casinos, with 73% voting against the proposal. If a ban had been approved, casinos in Liechtenstein would have been closed and banned by 2028.
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| Referendums | |
