With two tribal casinos and nearly a dozen bars and taverns within the North End alone, Initiative 892 could have a strong impact on the local gambling industry if it’s passed by voters on Nov. 2.

If approved, I-892 would allow non-tribal establishments with gambling licenses to install electronic scratch ticket machines in their businesses — the same slot-like machines that are presently offered exclusively in casinos. Of machine profits, 35 percent would help reduce property taxes starting in 2007 and help pay for problem gambling services.

Representatives from both the casinos and the non-tribal establishments are voicing strong, opposite opinions on the issue.

The Herald attempted to contact the owners of nine North End non-tribal businesses that would be potentially affected, but very few who responded wanted to go on the record.

While Ron Rutledge, owner of The Main Street Ale House in Kingston, Magnolia Café in Poulsbo and the soon-to-open Troller Tavern and Galley in Suquamish, was the only bar owner who said he doesn’t plan to install gaming in his businesses, three other establishments were all for it.

Both Mucky Duck owner Jack Houghtaling and Kingston Inn Restaurant and Lounge owner Michael Prestley believe the initiative would “level the playing field.”

Both experienced a strong decline in their bar and gaming businesses when the Clearwater Casino first opened with pull tab machines in 1995.

“It has been detrimental to the bar/restaurant business in this area,” Prestley said.

With $1 beers and $5 breakfasts offered at the casino, he said he doesn’t know how his business can compete.

As for the No On I-892 campaign claim that adding more slot machines would impact the community’s quality of life, both owners disagreed. Houghtaling said the machines won’t be any more visible than they are now because they’ll be in establishments that are restricted to minors.

“The slots machines will be put in the bars,” Prestley added. “There is already gambling. What is the difference between pull tabs and slots?”

While Portside Pub owner Stephen Urand said he doesn’t have a gambling license now, he said he would get one if the initiative passes and would install two machines at the most.

“Pull tabs are cheesy and are hard work and they just don’t look nice,” he

said. “But if I could have slot machines, it takes care of itself, it’s much better looking and the end result is the same — it’s gambling.”

Officials from Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe’s The Point Casino and Suquamish’s Clearwater Casino both agree if the initiative went into effect, it could negatively impact both tribes efforts to provide services and improve the quality of life for their members.

“This is an economic development that works,” said S’Klallam Tribal Chairman Ron Charles, noting the tribe has tried other various unsuccessful venues to create profit. “(The casino) provides the tribe money to use in a lot of

important ways to help.”

Profits from casinos go toward tribal government services such as health care and law enforcement on the reservation — saving local governments money from not having to pay for these services for the tribes, said Clearwater Casino marketing director Ron Aller.

“It’s things — essential government services — that we’re looking at using

the profits,” Charles added.

Profits also go back into the community in various forms, such as jobs.

“For every two jobs in the casino, it creates one job in the community,” Aller said.

Casinos also distribute Appendix X fees — profits from the casino’s gaming machines that are distributed in the form of grants to non-profit groups. He also believes that the community’s quality of life will maintain its current level if gambling stays where it is — within the walls of casinos.

Both tribes have contributed to the No On I-892 campaign, Suquamish $140,000 and S’Klallam $24,000. Between the two establishments, there are nearly 1,400 electronic gaming machines currently in North Kitsap.

For more information on the issue, go to www.voteno892.org, www.justtreatusthesame.com or the Washington State Gambling Commission’s Web site, www.wsgc.wa.gov.