In the news video below, WPRI recently spotlighted how more than HALF the revenues from government’s casino program comes from citizens who have been turned into gambling addicts– citizens just like Sandy Hall who appears in this story. She lost almost everything she had to an electronic gambling machine operated in partnership with government, “regulated” by government and her enormous gambling losses were simply considered part of government’s revenues.
We are told the public benefit of government’s gambling program is to “create jobs” but the results show it creates far more gambling addicts than jobs. According to the Illinois Gambling Board 2010 Annual Report, the number of people who have put themselves on a “self-exclusion” list to help them stay out of casinos because of gambling addiction – about 8,300 – is over 20% more than the number of people employed by the casinos – about 6,900.
In a nation where everyone is equal under the law, how can government continue to promote a failed policy where more than half the profit it collects is a direct result of treating hundreds of thousands of citizens like Sandy Hall as subhuman? Why are the lives of people like her considered worthless and not protected by our government?
Les Bernal
I think I remember reading that Illinois voters had rejected gambling expansion something like 3 times, but then the gambling Borg descended, carpet bombed the state with lobbying $$ and voila! Resistant proved futile.
Anyone who lived through the Middleboro casino vote in 2007 knows is a very real scenario.
Quite right, Gladys!
The legislation was written by the Gambling Industry to benefit the Gambling Industry.
From: Beacon Hill might be wise to heed
In Pennsylvania, $60 million was spent and the legislation was passed at midnight on the 4th of July, without addressing the issue of children and pets being abandoned in vehicles because lawmakers were so poorly informed about the perils of Gambling Addiction.
This recent article was striking:
Oklahoma: $7 billion annual cost of Gambling Addiction
And don’t forget to consider the information on the United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts web site. Add your name to the email list.
And let’s not forget: Massachusetts Democratic Party Resolution Opposing Predatory Gambling when the elected Democrats ignore the Party faithful.
This is a loser!
Are the legislators reading up on casinos or are they blindly following leadership? Casinos would profoundly change the business climate and culture of Massachusetts.
Did anyone here attend the hearings on casinos? Did any legislator ask any substantive questions?
Not the opposition message, as far as I can tell. I remember last year, before the senate “debate”, there was a total of 83 minutes worth of time spent on the USS-mass.org web site from the state house. Or, just slightly over 2 minutes per senator. This years total is almost negligible. People assume they already know all there is to know about this issue. But there’s a lot to it. The pages regarding impacts of casinos and slot parlors on crime and communities are eye openers.
I mean, there are statements there from mayors, selectmen, planning commission members from casino host towns and surrounding communities, as well as from state prosecutors, even FBI agents.
The lack of understanding by legislators really shows when you watch the hearings and “debates”, and examine votes on amendments.
to ensure the way of life the casino industry has become accustomed to can continue and flourish!
Is this the most creative economic development plan our legislators can come up with? Do any casino proponents actually think that people will be flying in from all over the country to come to gamble in Massachusetts? It’s not going to happen. Instead, people who live within a 30 mile radius (or so…) of these casinos will be dropping their paychecks down slot machines – while local businesses suffer. Essentially, we will be getting a revenue boost from families going into debt. And then we have to consider the addiction factor.
I have always been and will remain an optimist. I hope this bill dies in the Senate and we can (finally!) put this issue to rest.