Illinois General Assembly, video gaming, and more arguments against
I’m changing direction this week. Although I plan more posts on healthcare nationalized, this week I’m going to cover the State of Illinois and its new push to increase revenue by allowing gambling/video gaming throughout the State.
I had intended to end my series on video gaming on Saturday. However, I have more to say and it seems apparent that healthcare nationalized will not occur this week and may not occur this year—nor should it.
Therefore, I’m going to write a few more posts on video gaming and then return to healthcare nationalized.
The following is from http://www.ilcaaap.org/ (Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems)
“Video Gambling Act: Creates thousands of mini casinos in neighborhoods throughout the state:
The Video Gambling Act (HB 255 and the clean up bill HB 2424) will allow all licensed retail establishments where alcohol is drawn, poured, mixed or served for consumption on the premises to conduct video gambling. (Bars, restaurants, banquet halls, airport lounges, bowling alleys, billiard parlors, truck stops, and clubs—veteran and fraternal).
1) Creates thousands of mini casinos:
Currently there are 10,182 legalized gambling machines at nine casinos. There are over 21,000 bars and restaurants in Illinois that serve alcohol. Each retail liquor establishment and truck stop can have 5 video gambling machines. There is no limit to the number of establishments that can apply for a license. This form of gambling occurs in close proximity to residential areas where people encounter the machines in their day-to-day activities. The machines can be purchased and installed quickly at existing sites, creating thousands of mini casinos in neighborhoods throughout the State.
2) Illinois Communities Oppose Video Gambling:
In January, 2002 the Senate Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gambling issued a Final Report on a proposal to legalize video gambling. The percentage of responses from community leaders was 57.57% opposed (population of 851,426) to 42.17% in support (population 623,663). The Daily Herald recently interviewed Mayors and elected officials who opposed video gambling in their communities.”
“The legislation includes a provision for a municipality to pass an ordinance prohibiting video gambling within the corporate limits. A county board may pass an ordinance prohibiting video gambling within the unincorporated areas of the county.
3) Convenience gambling creates greater social costs:
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission received testimony that convenience gambling, such as electronic devices in neighborhood outlets, provides fewer economic benefits and creates potentially greater social costs by making gambling more available and accessible. The Commission recommends that states should not authorize any further convenience gambling operations and should cease and roll back existing operations. (Final Report, June, 1999, p. 3-18)
4) No game is more addictive:
Psychologist Robert Hunter of Charter Hospital in Las Vegas, who has treated more problem and compulsive gambling than anyone in the world, calls video poker the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling. He has seen an increase in female problem gamblers who play video poker in their neighborhood casino. Video poker is hypnotizing, an escape from problems, and fast. The addiction process for a sports’ better may take 20 years. For a video poker player, it may take only 1-2 years.
As many as 20% of current video poker players in South Carolina may meet the criteria for pathological gambling, according to a 1997 research study. The data also suggests that African-American gamblers in South Carolina might be twice as likely to meet the criteria for pathological gambling. (South Carolina Center for Gambling Studies)
Problem drinkers are 23 times more likely to have a gambling problem than individuals who do not have an alcohol problem. Legalizing electronic gambling devices at establishments that serve alcohol will result in more problem and pathological gamblers. (Journal of Studies of Alcohol) (This seems like common sense. We all know that alcohol decreases inhibitions and cognitive reasoning. Just as drinking and driving don’t mix, it seems rather obvious that drinking and gambling don’t mix. Why else would Las Vegas emphasis gambling and drinking in combination? They know how to drain the last dime from all the suckers who think they can beat the odds!—my addition)
5) Loss of jobs—no economic development:
A leading study from Australia in 2000 concluded that for every 80 video gambling machines, $2 million was drained from and ‘damaged the local economy’ each year (That’s $25,000 per machine—my addition). Furthermore, in this example, for every three video gambling machines, two jobs were lost. The average worldwide was one net job lost each year per EGD/slot machine. (Gambling: Executive Summaries & Recommendations, p. 328, U.S. International Gambling Report, 2009)
Video Poker machines create few jobs and fewer good quality jobs, and it is not accompanied by any significant investment in the local economy. (National Gambling Impact Study Commission Final Report)
6) Legalizing video gambling will not eliminate illegal gambling:
Video gambling will be difficult to regulate and monitor at so many locations statewide. ‘Legalizing video poker machines could provide fresh millions to the Chicago Outfit and drain the pockets of gamblers sucked in by the machine’s addictive allure.’ (Legalizing video poker would bankroll crime, Chicago Sun-Times, May 14, 2009)
7) Provides weak safeguards for minors:
Licensed establishments, veterans, and fraternal establishments cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a racetrack or within 1,000 feet of the home dock of a riverboat casino. However, licensed liquor establishments can legally operate video gambling machines within 100 feet of schools and churches. This legislation protects racetracks and riverboats from competition, and offers no protection for the safety of children.
Underage drinking is already a problem in many communities. Underage gambling is a growing problem and will likely increase if video gambling machines are legalized in restaurants and locations frequented by children and minors. While the law prohibits gambling by anyone under 21, a weak provision restricts the location of video gambling terminals in an area for persons over 21, with the entrance within view of at least one employee, who is over the age of 21 years of age. Knowingly permitting a minor to gamble is a ‘business offense’ with a fine limited to $5,000.
8) Could reward those who operated the machines illegally:
In July of 2001, The Chicago Sun Times reported that Chicago could seize video poker machines under a revamped video poker ordinance that clearly defined the features of a video poker machine that made gambling possible. Rather than tighten and enforce gambling laws statewide, the Video Gambling Act could reward some of the people who have skirted the law. After paying 30% taxes, the owners of the machines will get 35% of the Adjusted Gross Receipts, and the licensed establishments will get 35%.
9) Amber Alert messages:
The Illinois Gaming Board may require video poker machines to display Amber Alert messages. There are documented cases of women who become addicted to video gambling, abandoning their children to gamble. One woman left her 10-day-old baby locked in a sweltering car for more than 7 hours while she gambled on these machines in South Carolina. The baby died. It is ludicrous to believe that video poker gamblers will stop gambling to search for missing children!
‘This type of gambling has been shown to increase crime, destroy families and diminish our wholesome way of life. Our prosecutors and judges will see an increase in criminal cases as well as bankruptcies. Our township trustee officers and churches should be concerned because when those who have the least gamble and lose, they end up needing additional assistance from the public and private sectors. Our police and sheriff’s departments will also feel the effects from increased domestic violence, robbery, thefts, drunken drivers and increased man-hours for additional investigations. Which brings the cost back to you and me, the taxpayers who will be asked to pay for the increased budgets to combat these crimes against society.’ Comments from Candidate for Sheriff in Allen County Indiana (Journal Gazette, January 16, 2006, http://www.fortwayne.com/)”
Did your Representative vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why? Did your Senator vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why?
I’m changing direction this week. Although I plan more posts on healthcare nationalized, this week I’m going to cover the State of Illinois and its new push to increase revenue by allowing gambling/video gaming throughout the State.
I had intended to end my series on video gaming on Saturday. However, I have more to say and it seems apparent that healthcare nationalized will not occur this week and may not occur this year—nor should it.
Therefore, I’m going to write a few more posts on video gaming and then return to healthcare nationalized.
The following is from http://www.ilcaaap.org/ (Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems)
“Video Gambling Act: Creates thousands of mini casinos in neighborhoods throughout the state:
The Video Gambling Act (HB 255 and the clean up bill HB 2424) will allow all licensed retail establishments where alcohol is drawn, poured, mixed or served for consumption on the premises to conduct video gambling. (Bars, restaurants, banquet halls, airport lounges, bowling alleys, billiard parlors, truck stops, and clubs—veteran and fraternal).
1) Creates thousands of mini casinos:
Currently there are 10,182 legalized gambling machines at nine casinos. There are over 21,000 bars and restaurants in Illinois that serve alcohol. Each retail liquor establishment and truck stop can have 5 video gambling machines. There is no limit to the number of establishments that can apply for a license. This form of gambling occurs in close proximity to residential areas where people encounter the machines in their day-to-day activities. The machines can be purchased and installed quickly at existing sites, creating thousands of mini casinos in neighborhoods throughout the State.
2) Illinois Communities Oppose Video Gambling:
In January, 2002 the Senate Executive Committee Subcommittee on Gambling issued a Final Report on a proposal to legalize video gambling. The percentage of responses from community leaders was 57.57% opposed (population of 851,426) to 42.17% in support (population 623,663). The Daily Herald recently interviewed Mayors and elected officials who opposed video gambling in their communities.”
“The legislation includes a provision for a municipality to pass an ordinance prohibiting video gambling within the corporate limits. A county board may pass an ordinance prohibiting video gambling within the unincorporated areas of the county.
3) Convenience gambling creates greater social costs:
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission received testimony that convenience gambling, such as electronic devices in neighborhood outlets, provides fewer economic benefits and creates potentially greater social costs by making gambling more available and accessible. The Commission recommends that states should not authorize any further convenience gambling operations and should cease and roll back existing operations. (Final Report, June, 1999, p. 3-18)
4) No game is more addictive:
Psychologist Robert Hunter of Charter Hospital in Las Vegas, who has treated more problem and compulsive gambling than anyone in the world, calls video poker the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling. He has seen an increase in female problem gamblers who play video poker in their neighborhood casino. Video poker is hypnotizing, an escape from problems, and fast. The addiction process for a sports’ better may take 20 years. For a video poker player, it may take only 1-2 years.
As many as 20% of current video poker players in South Carolina may meet the criteria for pathological gambling, according to a 1997 research study. The data also suggests that African-American gamblers in South Carolina might be twice as likely to meet the criteria for pathological gambling. (South Carolina Center for Gambling Studies)
Problem drinkers are 23 times more likely to have a gambling problem than individuals who do not have an alcohol problem. Legalizing electronic gambling devices at establishments that serve alcohol will result in more problem and pathological gamblers. (Journal of Studies of Alcohol) (This seems like common sense. We all know that alcohol decreases inhibitions and cognitive reasoning. Just as drinking and driving don’t mix, it seems rather obvious that drinking and gambling don’t mix. Why else would Las Vegas emphasis gambling and drinking in combination? They know how to drain the last dime from all the suckers who think they can beat the odds!—my addition)
5) Loss of jobs—no economic development:
A leading study from Australia in 2000 concluded that for every 80 video gambling machines, $2 million was drained from and ‘damaged the local economy’ each year (That’s $25,000 per machine—my addition). Furthermore, in this example, for every three video gambling machines, two jobs were lost. The average worldwide was one net job lost each year per EGD/slot machine. (Gambling: Executive Summaries & Recommendations, p. 328, U.S. International Gambling Report, 2009)
Video Poker machines create few jobs and fewer good quality jobs, and it is not accompanied by any significant investment in the local economy. (National Gambling Impact Study Commission Final Report)
6) Legalizing video gambling will not eliminate illegal gambling:
Video gambling will be difficult to regulate and monitor at so many locations statewide. ‘Legalizing video poker machines could provide fresh millions to the Chicago Outfit and drain the pockets of gamblers sucked in by the machine’s addictive allure.’ (Legalizing video poker would bankroll crime, Chicago Sun-Times, May 14, 2009)
7) Provides weak safeguards for minors:
Licensed establishments, veterans, and fraternal establishments cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a racetrack or within 1,000 feet of the home dock of a riverboat casino. However, licensed liquor establishments can legally operate video gambling machines within 100 feet of schools and churches. This legislation protects racetracks and riverboats from competition, and offers no protection for the safety of children.
Underage drinking is already a problem in many communities. Underage gambling is a growing problem and will likely increase if video gambling machines are legalized in restaurants and locations frequented by children and minors. While the law prohibits gambling by anyone under 21, a weak provision restricts the location of video gambling terminals in an area for persons over 21, with the entrance within view of at least one employee, who is over the age of 21 years of age. Knowingly permitting a minor to gamble is a ‘business offense’ with a fine limited to $5,000.
8) Could reward those who operated the machines illegally:
In July of 2001, The Chicago Sun Times reported that Chicago could seize video poker machines under a revamped video poker ordinance that clearly defined the features of a video poker machine that made gambling possible. Rather than tighten and enforce gambling laws statewide, the Video Gambling Act could reward some of the people who have skirted the law. After paying 30% taxes, the owners of the machines will get 35% of the Adjusted Gross Receipts, and the licensed establishments will get 35%.
9) Amber Alert messages:
The Illinois Gaming Board may require video poker machines to display Amber Alert messages. There are documented cases of women who become addicted to video gambling, abandoning their children to gamble. One woman left her 10-day-old baby locked in a sweltering car for more than 7 hours while she gambled on these machines in South Carolina. The baby died. It is ludicrous to believe that video poker gamblers will stop gambling to search for missing children!
‘This type of gambling has been shown to increase crime, destroy families and diminish our wholesome way of life. Our prosecutors and judges will see an increase in criminal cases as well as bankruptcies. Our township trustee officers and churches should be concerned because when those who have the least gamble and lose, they end up needing additional assistance from the public and private sectors. Our police and sheriff’s departments will also feel the effects from increased domestic violence, robbery, thefts, drunken drivers and increased man-hours for additional investigations. Which brings the cost back to you and me, the taxpayers who will be asked to pay for the increased budgets to combat these crimes against society.’ Comments from Candidate for Sheriff in Allen County Indiana (Journal Gazette, January 16, 2006, http://www.fortwayne.com/)”
Did your Representative vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why? Did your Senator vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why?
posted by Christian Gunslinger at 4:26 AM
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