The media attention toward the Minnesota racino proposal currently on the floor at the state legislature is not as complicated as some make it out to be. Every year Minnesotans spend billions of dollars on gambling; why shouldnâÄôt some of that money be directed into the state government funds? The latest letter from Daniel Timp proposed that the addition of casinos at Canterbury Park would increase gambling addictions. And why? There are already 18 casinos in Minnesota, with legal gambling also available at both racetracks. There are opportunities for Minnesotans to gamble to their heartsâÄô content. What is currently lacking is the opportunity for Minnesota to benefit from its citizensâÄô and visitorsâÄô habits. In a time of a record-breaking state budget deficit and high unemployment rates, the racino proposal would utilize existing facilities to potentially generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for the state government and add thousands of jobs. The racinos would require no state investment with the potential for enormous benefits to the economy. Eleven other states are already bolstering their economy through racinos. Minnesota should be the next. Catherine Newcomb University student