Supporters of Amendment 33 must have a boatload of money. Their glossy, gorgeous brochures tout the virtues and benefits of the amendment. They talk about all the money that will be pumped into Colorado's open space and parks, with no additional taxes required. They have beautiful, full color photos of the Rocky Mountains. They tell us how endangered our parks are and how much they need this new infusion of money.

What they don't tell us is where all this bounty will come from, except in two short lines at the bottom of the brochure. It comes from a whole new array of gambling equipment at race tracks and casinos. They also don't tell us who's funding this slick advertising. That's the companies who sell the video lottery machines. This isn't about helping save Colorado's parks. This is about pure self-interest.

We Coloradans need to ask ourselves whether the self-interest of gambling promoters is also our own self-interest. Does more money for state parks justify pouring money from Coloradans' pockets into the hands of the promoters? Are we getting the straight story about video lottery and the advantages or disadvantages it will bring to Colorado?

The pro-Amendment 33 brochures tell us it will "invest $25 million a year to improve our parks and quality of life without raising taxes." They go into some detail about how outdoor and wildlife programs will benefit. They say: "Amendment 33. Good for tourism. Good for the Economy. Good for You."

Isn't it a little odd that in the midst of lauding all the supposedly great advantages of Amendment 33, the supporters have virtually nothing to say about what Amendment 33 really does? If gambling is so good for Colorado, why don't they broadcast the wonders of gambling, too? Apparently, they don't want voters to know that this is really about gambling. Their advertising is both deceptive and dishonest.

What does Amendment 33 really do and who really benefits? According to the state Legislative Council's impartial analysis, the amendment allows an initial placement of 2500 video lottery terminals at horse and greyhound race tracks in Loveland, Commerce City, Colorado Springs and Pueblo, as well as in casinos in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek. The Colorado Lottery Commission can approve more terminals, but only at these locations.

If projections are accurate, the state's share of the video lottery proceeds would rise from $47 million in the first year to $86 million in the third year. That's a nice chunk of money. But, commissions to race track operators would also be large, starting with nearly $36 million in year one and rising to nearly $65 million in year three. No wonder the race track owners and equipment vendors are pushing this amendment so eagerly. It brings them big bucks.

If this is so good for Colorado, why don't the promoters of Amendment 33 tell us in their ads how much money they'll be raking in from video lottery terminals? Why don't they tell us about the 2500 or more machines that will be added to Colorado's gambling operations? Are they afraid that if we voters knew this was another expansion of gambling in the state, we'd vote "no"?

Gambling is a matter of personal choice. Most people go to the three gambling towns (and two Ute reservations) we currently have to take a little risk and have a good time. But, like drinking alcohol, too much gambling is unhealthy for society. Over the past decade, Colorado voters have turned down several attempts to expand gambling in the state. We've decided we have enough.

That's why the deceptive advertising in support of Amendment 33 is so troubling. It tells only part of the story about the amendment and what it does to Colorado. Nothing about gambling and nothing about the promoters of the amendment, whose self-interest may conflict significantly with what's best for the rest of us. Given the huge implications of more gambling in our state, voters need to understand who wins and who loses with this amendment. The promoters seem to have a stake in making sure we don't know that.