In these troubled times gambling will have serious attention by the Legislature and the governor. Therefore, if we must have gambling, let's do it right. Shipboard is the right path for many reasons - here are just a few:

» The state will earn more with shipboard gambling than with land-based gambling. Here is why: In addition to the gambling tax that both forms of gambling pay, shipboard gambling vessels also will have to pay the state another 4 percent of their gross sales. This is because a gambling vessel must have a state-issued “;commercial permit”; to operate in Hawaiian waters. This means many millions more to the state than would be paid by land-based casinos.

» If shipboard gambling turns out to be a mistake for Hawaii, then all the state has to do is tell the owners of the gambling ships to take their gambling ships elsewhere, and in a short time they would be gone. Closing the door on gambling is not so easy with land-based casinos. Once they are built they are here, most likely, forever.

» With shipboard gambling, the gaudy casinos are located on a gambling ship anchored or sailing well off shore. Unlike land-based casinos, shipboard gambling is not in our hotels and not in our communities. Thus our Hawaii lifestyle is preserved.

» Shipboard gambling ensures a “;zero tolerance”; for drugs. The U.S. Coast Guard will not permit drugs on board any vessels in Hawaiian waters.

Also, the ship owners and operators must drug screen all personnel.

Gambling operators will not risk the loss of their vessels to illicit drug use. Land-based casinos do not have this layer of federal protection, only shipboard gambling does.

» Shipboard gambling means every job is a U.S. citizen's job. The federal “;Jones Act”; will ensure that all gambling vessels are owned and operated by U.S. citizens. Not so with land-based casinos. This means real employment opportunities for Hawaii's citizens.

» Gambling ships will be required to pay all of their taxes in full and on time. They have to do this in order to renew their annual commercial permits. No tax clearance, no commercial permit.

  Residents of Hawaii who are concerned about Hawaii's ability to regulate gambling will find comfort in the layers of control and oversight by the city, state and federal governments that are required for shipboard gambling.

Hawaii has only one chance to do it right when it comes to gambling. If Hawaii must have gambling, then I hope our legislators do the right thing and only permit shipboard gambling and just say “;no”; to land-based gambling.