Illinois General Assembly, video gaming, and Stop Predatory Gambling


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 the 19th. 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.

My new plans are as follows: I’m going to end the series on video gaming on the 30th of September. I’ve found more information about gambling at http://www.stoppredatorygambling.org/ and http://www.freedomplayers.org/. Tonight I’m posting five of the many posts from http://www.stoppredatorygambling.org/ and then plan on concluding (for now) on Wednesday morning. I plan to do my regular feature on “global warming” for, at least, the normal two days. I also have a new monthly feature I’m going to start and then, hopefully, back to healthcare nationalized for a few more posts. As you know though, I have been known to change things as I proceed.

From http://www.stoppredatorygambling.org/

1) “What we own is broken and it's up to us to fix it

By SPG July 24, 2009 at 11:06 AM EDT (SPG stands for Stop Predatory Gambling—my addition)

News about another massive public corruption scandal spread across America yesterday. This time in New Jersey. It comes on the heels of other recent corruption scandals, extreme examples of mismanagement and inept leadership from around the country including Illinois, California, Pennsylvania, New York, South Carolina, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Michigan and Nevada. (Wow! Look! There’s Illinois at the head of the class!!!—my addition)

It’s no coincidence that all of these states have developed active partnerships with the predatory gambling trade. State-sponsored predatory gambling corrupts America’s core democratic principles in at least a couple of very profound ways.

The first is the notion of self-government. The state-sponsored predatory gambling business model cannot exist without addicted or heavily-indebted citizens. They attempt to elude charges of exploitation by pleading it is a ‘voluntary’ act, hiding under the cloak of ‘freedom.’ But any addiction is a potential threat to good government because by definition, someone who is an addict is not self-governing. Someone who is in deep financial debt is not free.”

The result? A something for nothing mentality, increased crime, increased corruption, increased debt, increased bankruptcies, increased family misery, and suicides. Hey! But it’s their choice! A choice helped and encouraged by State governments in the name of raising MORE State revenue.

If gambling is a gangster activity, then most of our States have now become GANGSTER GOVERNMENTS. It seems that it is not only the individual citizen who is irresponsible. It is also State governments who are IRRESPONSIBLE as they ENCOURAGE and TEMPT their own citizens into poor economic and social choices. Seen any State sponsored commercials lately promoting a State lottery game or two? Ah, but the commercials do ask that we each “play” (I think the correct term is bet) responsibly! As if an addict is going to bet responsibly!

“The core democratic principle that binds us the strongest is equal citizenship. In America, we do not have kings or queens because here; all blood is considered royal. State-sponsored predatory gambling, the practice of using gambling to prey on human weakness for profit, blatantly violates the principle of equal citizenship. We are creating addicted and heavily indebted citizens in order to provide a small number of schemers an obscene level of unearned power and wealth, all in the name of getting someone else to pay our taxes. We also are saying clearly that some people in America are expendable. Doesn’t our Constitution prohibit anyone from denying another American equal protection under the law?

A healthy democracy cannot exist anywhere without the principles of self-government and equal citizenship firmly in place. To improve American government, we must stop state-sponsored predatory gambling first.”

2) “The Tarheel Scheme

By SPG July 21, 2009 at 12:30 PM EDT

Bernie Madoff must be sitting in his North Carolina jail cell saying to himself that he went into the wrong business.

Yesterday, the Legislature in his new home state voted in support of allowing state lottery tickets to be sold at check cashing locations.”

“It shows how predatory gambling, the ultimate ‘something for nothing’ scheme, has become one of the key drivers in our debt culture and has split Americans into two classes of people: The Investor Class and The Lottery Class.

The Investor Class has mutual funds and other investment vehicles to save for retirement and their kids’ college education. You can be certain that virtually no member of the Investor Class uses a check cashing store. They own the store.

The Lottery Class represents the more than one out of five Americans who, according to the Consumer Federation of America, believe the best way to achieve long-term financial security is to play the Lottery. We have turned people who are small earners with the potential to be small savers into a new class of habitual bettors. (Most of whom will be habitual losers! Can’t increase State revenue without more losers than winners! It’s just not possible!!!—my addition)

We have a shrinking middle class in America in large part because of predatory institutions and one of the very worst is the State Lottery. It is not possible to have a large Lottery Class and a strong, expanding middle class at the same time. We must act to stop it.”

Do you mean our own State governments’ support and promotion of gambling is, in part, helping to destroy our middle class? Hard to believe! Ah, but the governments are getting more money to spend on more programs which theoretically are to help people reach the middle class, aren’t they? It’s like the governments are chasing their own tails!

3) “Deception lies at the core of the predatory gambling trade

By SPG July 20, 2009 at 09:12 AM EDT

Ohio election officials have found that predatory gambling advocates used the signatures of deceased voters in their signature collection effort to put a referendum legalizing casinos on the November ballot.” “The Dayton Daily News reports:

The Montgomery County board ruled 48,326 of 82,624 signatures—58 percent—invalid and sent petitions with potentially fraudulent signatures to the county prosecutor’s office for investigation. In Darke County, Becky Martin, deputy elections board director, saw the signature of her late father-in-law, James Martin, who died more than 25 years ago, on a petition.” “‘It was his address and everything. They’ll just stoop low to do anything.’ she said.

As officials review the fraudulent signatures, they should also investigate the significant allegations that electronic gambling machines are deceptive and fraudulent. According to MIT Professor Dr. Natasha Schull, when you look at what these algorithms inside slot machines are doing, it’s a high tech version of ‘weighting the deck’ or ‘loading the dice.’ For you non-gamblers out there, that means the machines are cheating.”

4) “The predatory gambling mission of New York: Outperform pornography

By SPG September 04, 2009 at 08:43 AM EDT

New York Governor David Paterson ordered the New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. to prepare for a reorganization under Chapter 9 of federal bankruptcy law, after four years of losses totaling $38 million. (A gambling plot operated by government and losing money? Is that possible?—my addition)

The filing, the first involving a New York State-run gambling operation, won’t halt operations. It will include the planned sale of $250 million of bonds to repay some accumulated debts and allow spending on new technology, said Meyer Frucher, whom Paterson appointed to develop a rescue plan.

Here’s an unforgettable quote from Frucher about the promise of state-sponsored gambling as reported by Bloomberg News:

With updated technology, ‘We could go head to head with pornography and win,’ Frucher said, referring to possibilities such as an around-the-clock horse-racing channel or virtual racing. (Comparing one addiction with another and gambling would win!—my addition)

The mission of our democracy, established clearly in our Constitution, is ‘to promote the general welfare.’ State-sponsored predatory gambling violates this mission. Can you imagine any of America’s formative leaders over the last 225 years declaring that ‘we could go head to head with pornography and win’?

State-sponsored predatory gambling symbolizes everything we need to change about the current state of our democracy and our economic future. It’s up to us to fix it.”

5) “One of the undeniable truths about predatory gambling

By SPG September 16, 2009 at 10:32 AM EDT

Our growing movement to stop predatory gambling is the most diverse social movement in America. The reason for our opposition is not based on partisanship: we are non-partisan and our movement is made up of people whose views span the political spectrum as well as nearly every faith community. It consists of concerned citizens from every region in America and from nearly every walk of life.

Here the left-leaning Citizens for Tax Justice, a national group whose mission is to make the tax system fairer for middle-and low-income American families, takes dead aim at the something for nothing scheme which is state-sponsored predatory gambling. The article, titled ‘The Exaggerated Promise of Legalized Gambling’, is a must-read.

The article concludes with one of the undeniable truths about predatory gambling:

‘Ultimately, the fact is that gambling is far from a fiscal panacea for the states, and given the tendency for implementation delays, is exceedingly unlikely to result in much revenue to fix the current round of state budget shortfalls.’”

Did your Representative vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why? Did your Senator vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why?

Illinois General Assembly, video gaming, and public opinion


What do you know! The Peoria Journal Star finally published my letter to the editor Sunday—the 27th—concerning Congressman Phil Hare. It took almost a month but it was printed. Tomorrow I’m changing the above statement to reflect the publication of the letter.

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 the 19th. 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.

My new plans are as follows: I’m going to end the series on video gaming on the 30th of September (or sooner). I plan to do my regular feature on “global warming” for, at least, the normal two days. I also have a new monthly feature I’m going to start and then, hopefully, back to healthcare nationalized for a few more posts. As you know though, I have been known to change things as I proceed.

If you’ve read this blog for awhile you know that I have concerns about public opinion polls. Unless I’ve seen the wording of the questions and the methodology used, I certainly wouldn’t “bet” the farm on the results. Even if everything is done correctly and accurately, a poll is, at best, a snapshot of opinion at one specific time. By there very nature, opinions can and do fluctuate and change over time. That said, I’ve been e-mailed one result of a public opinion poll on video gaming which was done in September after video gaming was passed by the State legislature and became law.

From http://www.chicagotribune.com/

Some selected information from that poll and the online Tribune article (And put into my format) includes:

“Tribune/WGN Poll
Tribune poll finds nearly 60% oppose video gambling

If given the chance to vote on the issue, most would reject key funding aspect of public works bill

By Bob Secter and Rick Pearson
Tribune reporters
September 9, 2009

Opposition to video gambling has softened in the last six years, but nearly 60 percent of Illinois voters say they would cast a ballot to ban poker machines in their local bars and restaurants if given the chance, a Tribune/WGN poll found.
Long part of discussions about expanding gambling in the state, legalized video poker became a reality this year when Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation as part of a financing scheme for a $31 billion public works program.

To ease concerns from local officials, the new law allows counties, cities and towns to ban gambling within their boundaries or gives voters the right to seek a referendum to decide the issue. The new law carves out a slice of tax revenues from the machines for local governments, but any locale that bans video gambling doesn’t get to share in the bounty.

The poll found that 58 percent of voters would vote against legalized video gambling in a local referendum, while just 34 percent would support it. Opposition was about 60 percent from voters in suburban Cook County, the collar counties and Downstate, while 49 percent of Chicago voters said they would vote against it and 42 percent for it.

The telephone poll, conducted Aug. 27-31 by Market Shares Corp. with 700 registered voters in the state, had an error margin of 4 percentage points.

State officials estimate that as many as 45,000 legal poker machines could eventually be up and running across Illinois, bringing in $300 million a year in tax revenue.” (1 billion dollars times 30% [the State government’s take on video gaming before 16.67% of that is distributed to local communities] = $300 million. It seems the State is estimating about $1,000,000,000 being spent on video gaming each year. Is that all new money being spent on a new, legalized form of gambling or a shift in gambling allocations from the other sources of gambling? Is it a good idea to increase gambling by $1,000,000,000 per year or is it insanity?—my addition)

“In the current survey, the strongest opposition was voiced by Republican and African-American voters. Minorities have long complained that the state lottery and casinos disproportionately prey on their communities, targeting gamblers who can least afford to lose.

A total of 52 percent of black voters said they disapproved of the recent decision to legalize it while only 33 percent said they approved. Asked if gambling has been good for Illinois, 45 percent of African-American voters said legal gambling in all forms has been bad while just 32 percent said it has been good.” (Perhaps this is why newly elected Representative Jehan Gordon [D], 92nd Representative District, from Peoria, who is an African-American, voted against the bill and against the wishes of the Democratic Party—my addition)

“Speaking recently to the Tribune editorial board, state Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) said he would rather have hiked gasoline taxes than turn to video gambling to underwrite the public works program. Still, Cullerton said, legalization of video poker was justified because the machines already are flourishing illegally and this allows the state to at least regulate the market and make money.”

Is this a new government innovation? Replacing private gangsters with Gangster Government? Legalize prostitution to regulate the market and make money from it? Legalize robbery to regulate the market and make money from it? Legalize murder to regulate the market and make money from it? Does that seem reasonable to you? We can solve all crime by legalizing it, regulating it, and getting our share of the money from it!!! How low can government go in its seemingly unquenchable thirst for MORE money?

And I think the key is “make money.” The “give US more money” mentality of most of the members in the General Assembly. It’s easier to “create” new methods of “taxation” that it is to actually set priorities and live with the revenue now provided to the State. The legislature always comes up with new “needs” for the State. “Give US more money” to meet those new needs. Like children in a candy store, they never have enough money to meet the perceived “needs” of the State. NEVER!!!!!

Did your Representative vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why? Did your Senator vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why?

Illinois General Assembly, video gaming, and the spirit and intent of the Constitution


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 the 19th. 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.

Pay close attention! Tonight, a basic lesson on how our State legislature violated the spirit and intent of the Constitution and prevented the people of Illinois from voicing their opinion on important legislation. Our example tonight is the passage of H.B. 255 which now allows video gaming throughout the State in every establishment that sells alcohol by the glass.

All information is from the website of the House of Representatives and put into my format. From the beginning to the end with a knife in the back of the people of Illinois:

“Bill Status of HB0255
96th General Assembly

Short Description: ESTATE AND GST TAX-QTIP”

NOTE: the “short description” throughout has nothing to do with video gaming. Unless you knew what you were looking for, you would not know to investigate H.B. 255 as a bill/law dealing with VIDEO GAMING!!!

“House SponsorsRep. Lou Lang

Senate Sponsors (Sen. John J. Cullerton - Donne E. Trotter)”

“Last Action

Date: 5/22/2009
Chamber: House
Action: House Concurs 086-030-001; SA 1, 3 (Motion Pending)” [SA 1, 3 means Senate Amendments 1 and 3]

“Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax. Provides that the State tax credit for the estates of persons dying after December 31, 2005 and on or before December 31, 2009 includes a reduction for qualified terminable interest property. Provides that the trustee of a trust for which a QTIP election is made may not retain non-income producing assets for more than a reasonable amount of time without the consent of the surviving spouse. Effective immediately.”

NOTE: Originally H.B. 255 dealt with “estates of persons dying after December 31, 2005.” But never fear, in a twinkling of an eye, it will change to a bill legalizing video gaming.

“Actions: (beginning with the bill dealing with estates—my addition)

Date: 1/20/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Elaine Nekritz

Date: 1/20/2009
Chamber: House
Action: First Reading (Important first step—my addition)

Date: 1/20/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Referred to Rules Committee

Date: 2/04/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Assigned to Revenue & Finance Committee

Date: 3/03/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Elizabeth Coulson

Date: 3/12/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Recommends Do Pass Subcommittee/ Revenue & Finance Committee; 003-000-000

Date: 3/12/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Remains in Revenue & Finance Committee

Date: 3/12/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Do Pass / Short Debate Revenue & Finance Committee; 013-000-000

Date: 3/12/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading—Short Debate

Date: 3/12/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Thomas Holbrook

Date: 3/18/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Second Reading—Short Debate (Important second step—my addition)

Date: 3/18/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading—Short Debate

Date: 3/24/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Fiscal Note Filed

Date: 3/24/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Third Reading—Short Debate - Passed 112-001-000 (Important third step—my addition)

Date: 3/24/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. William B. Black

Date: 3/24/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Patricia R. Bellock”

NOTE: At this point H.B 255 still deals with the estates of dead people. The bill has gone through three readings as a bill dealing with the estates of dead people. But wait! In the Senate, things change (Is this the “change you can believe in” that Illinois Senator Barack Hussein Obama talked about when running for the Presidency?):

“Date: 3/25/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Arrive in Senate

Date: 3/25/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading March 26, 2009

Date: 3/25/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Don Harmon

Date: 3/26/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: First Reading (Important first step—my addition)

Date: 3/26/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Referred to Assignments

Date: 4/22/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Assigned to Revenue

Date: 4/22/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Tim Bivins

Date: 4/30/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Do Pass Revenue; 008-000-000

Date: 4/30/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 5, 2009

Date: 5/07/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Second Reading (Important second step—my addition)

Date: 5/07/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 12, 2009

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. John J. Cullerton (John Cullerton is the President of the Senate which means “Senate Democrats you had better support this bill it is being sponsored by your leader!”—my addition)

Up to this point, the bill in both the House and the Senate dealt with the estates of dead people. But watch what happens in three days and in only one day in the Senate! Who says the Illinois legislature can’t get things done quickly?

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. John J. Cullerton

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Executive

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Executive; 012-000-000

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. John J. Cullerton

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Sponsor Removed Sen. Tim Bivins

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Secretary by Sen. John J. Cullerton

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Assignments

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Be Approved for Consideration Assignments”

“Senate Floor Amendment No. 1

Replaces everything (REPLACES EVERYTHING!!! MAKING it an entirely NEW BILL having NOTHING to do with the estates of dead people!!!—my addition) after the enacting clause. Creates the Video Gaming Act (i) to allow licensed retail establishments where alcoholic liquor is served for consumption, licensed fraternal establishments, and licensed veterans establishments and truck stops to conduct video gaming and (ii) to require taxes to be deposited into the Capital Projects Fund and Local Government Video Gaming Distributive Fund. Creates the Capital Spending Accountability Law to require GOMB to make reports. Amends the Riverboat Gambling Act to provide for administration and enforcement by the Illinois Gaming Board. Amends the State Finance Act (i) to create the Capital Projects Fund and to require transfers to GRF and to require the Fund to be used for capital projects and debt service, (ii) to create the Local Government Video Gaming Distributive Fund, and (iii) to stop all diversions from the Road Fund to the Secretary of State and the State Police. Amends the use tax and occupation tax Acts (i) to provide that candy, certain beverages, and grooming and hygiene products are taxed at the 6.25% rate (instead of the 1% rate) and (ii) to require deposit of the increased revenue into the Capital Projects Fund. Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law to make changes concerning the Grade Crossing Protection Fund. Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934 to increase the tax on wine, on beer, and on alcohol and spirits. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code (i) to increase various fees and fines and require deposit of the increased revenue into the Capital Projects Fund and (ii) to make changes concerning load and weight restrictions. Amends the Illinois Lottery Law (i) to allow the Department of Revenue to conduct the Lottery through a management agreement with a private manager and (ii) to authorize a pilot program that allows an individual to purchase Illinois lottery tickets on the Internet. Provides for revenue from the Internet program, after payment of vendor compensation, to be deposited into the Common School Fund and the Capital Projects Fund. Amends the University of Illinois Act to require the University to conduct a study on the effect on Illinois families of members of the family purchasing Illinois Lottery tickets and to report its findings. Amends the Gambling Article of the Criminal Code of 1961 to make corresponding changes. Effective July 1, 2009, except that some parts related to truck weights take effect January 1, 2010.”

“Senate Floor Amendment No. 3
Provides that the bill does not take effect unless House Bill 312 of the 96th General Assembly, as amended, becomes law. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that the Underground Storage Tank Fund is not subject to administrative charges authorized under Section 8h of the State Finance Act.”

“Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Recalled to Second Reading

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Cullerton

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted; Cullerton

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Donne E. Trotter

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Third Reading—Passed; 047-012-000 (Important third step and done the same day the original bill was completely gutted and changed to video gaming [and other issues] by Amendments 1 and 3. NOTE: for the original first two readings, the bill was completely different dealing with the estates of dead people—my addition.)

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: Senate
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a)”

In one day, the Senate completely gutted the bill and passed it!

“Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Arrived in House (as amended—my addition)

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1, 3

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Elaine Nekritz

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Elaine Nekritz

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Executive Committee

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Executive Committee

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Remove Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Elizabeth Coulson

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Remove Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Patricia R. Bellock

Date: 5/20/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Remove Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. William B. Black

Date: 5/21/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Michael J. Madigan (Of course, Michael Madigan is Speaker of the House which means “House Democrats you had better support this bill it is being sponsored by your leader!”—my addition)

Date: 5/21/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Lou Lang

Date: 5/21/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends be Adopted Executive Committee; 010-000-000

Date: 5/21/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Recommends be Adopted Executive Committee; 010-000-000

Date: 5/21/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Remove Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Thomas Holbrook

Date: 5/21/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Remove Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Lou Lang

Date: 5/21/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Lou Lang

Date: 5/21/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 House Concurs 086-030-001

Date: 5/21/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 House Concurs 086-030-001

Date: 5/22/2009
Chamber: House
Action: House Concurs 086-030-001; SA 1, 3 (Motion Pending)

Date: 5/22/2009
Chamber: House
Action: Motion Filed to Reconsider Vote Rep. Lou Lang”

NOTE: In the House of Representatives the first reading of the bill occurred on “Date: 1/20/2009, Chamber: House Action: First Reading (Important first step—my addition)” The second reading occurred on “Date: 3/18/2009, Chamber: House, Action: Second Reading—Short Debate (Important second step—my addition)” And the third reading occurred on “Date: 3/24/2009, Chamber: House, Action: Third Reading—Short Debate - Passed 112-001-000 (Important third step—my addition)” All three readings in the House of Representatives occurred from January 20th through March 24th and the bill at these times dealt with the estates of dead people. If the public wanted to comment upon or influence the outcome of the legislation, they would be doing so in relation to the estates of dead people. That was the topic of H.B. 255 on the dates of all three readings.

Why is that important? This is what the Illinois Constitution says in relation to passing a bill to have said bill become a law:

“Constitution of the State of Illinois, adopted in Convention at Springfield, September 3, 1970. Ratified by the People, December 15, 1970. In force July 1, 1971.

Article IV—The Legislature, Section 8. Passage of Bills

(d) A bill shall be read by title on three different days in each house. A bill and each amendment thereto shall be reproduced and placed on the desk of each member before final passage.”

Where exactly is it possible for the people to comment and influence the passage of H.B. 255 to legalize video gaming? The three readings in three days provision was put into the Illinois Constitution to allow for public input—otherwise three readings on three different days would be redundant. All three readings in the House occurred when the bill dealt with a TOTALLY DIFFERENT subject. Two of the three readings in the Senate occurred when the bill dealt with a TOTALLY DIFFERENT topic. The Amendments, to TOTALLY CHANGE (“Change you can believe in!”) the bill passed in the Senate, were added, the third reading occurred, and the bill was passed in the Senate all in ONE DAY!

Do you believe, when the Illinois Constitution was adopted, the intent of the Illinois Constitution was to allow amendments to a bill to TOTALLY CHANGE the bill and CIRCUMVENT the provision of three readings in three days? If the actual Constitutional wording was not violated, the spirit and intent of the Constitution certainly were!

WHO NEEDS THE PUBLIC!!! THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR THIS STATE—NOT the CITIZENS!!!

The underhanded process used to pass this law is enough, in and of itself, to justify communities banning video gaming or passing a referendum against it. Don’t you think?

Did your Representative vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why? Did your Senator vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why?

Illinois General Assembly, video gaming, and increased gambling?


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 the 19th. 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.

An interesting and pertinent article was published in the Peoria Journal Star on September 24, 2009, page B1 and B3. I’m not going to quote the entire article—just the portions pertaining to gambling that coincide with the topic at hand. The headline and subhead are as follows: “OTB (off-track betting—my addition) parlor ‘a dying situation’” “General manager says the Finish Line will close after the Breeders’ Cup, then reopen as a sports bar.” (With the new video gaming law and as a sports bar that serves alcohol, the new establishment can still continue its gambling enterprise with five video gaming machines. So, all is not lost on the gambling front!—my addition)

The selected quotes from the article:

“Off-track betting is finishing out of the money in central Illinois—again.

The Finish Line the off-track betting parlor … will close sometime in November….”

“The problem with the Finish Line was not enough players…. ‘There just hasn’t been enough traffic at the OTB parlor to warrant staying open. It’s been incurring losses for many years. I really don’t think there’s much future there. It’s a dying situation’….” (page B1)

“Landmark was the site for the state’s first OTB parlor when it opened in September 1987. Betting topped $25 million in 1990 but activity declined rapidly after the Par-A-Dice Riverboat Casino (It’s not actually a riverboat but a land located casino next to the Illinois River. It is my understanding that the casino doesn’t actually have to be a boat on the river to qualify as a “riverboat” casino. Riverboat gambling, which was at one time allowed along some of the major waterways in another era, was just a fiction created by the Illinois General Assembly to rationalize casino gambling in the State—my addition.) opened in East Peoria (located in Tazewell County, my county—my addition) in November 1991.” (pages B1 and B3)

“‘The Peoria OTB was one of the most successful OTBs in the state until the riverboat came to town,’ said Paul O’Connor, a spokesman for Arlington Park racetrack in Chicago, in an interview in 1994.

Peoria’s OTB outlet closed in November 1995 but returned to the Landmark center in May 2000.

The ‘handle,’ or amount [of—my addition] bets taken in the Peoria OTB parlor, has declined since it reopened…. ‘We did a $12 million handle the first year (Note the amount of money transferred by gambling—$12 million—at this one enterprise in one year that could have otherwise been used to purchase other goods and services in Central Illinois—my addition.) after we reopened. Now it’s down to $6 million a year,’ he said. (And they can’t make a profit on the transfer of six million dollars a year—my addition.)

Efforts to stir interest in the flagging enterprise, such as proposals to allow slot machines or video poker machines (The “crack cocaine” of gambling!—my addition) in OTB parlors, haven’t gotten off the ground (The State legislature would not allow OTB parlors to have video poker machines but has now allowed them in any location that sells alcohol by the glass!—my addition), said Lanzotti, who also cited the Internet as another problem for the OTB industry. ‘It’s a very difficult business with Internet gambling. You’ve got the big hitters staying home to bet on the races,’ he said.” (page B3)

“Peoria isn’t the only place that’s seen off-track betting numbers decline, he said. ‘They’re down across Illinois. Danville closed their OTB outlet, and the Bloomington (outlet) just moved to another location. There’s just not a bright future for OTBs,’ said Lanzotti.” (page B3)

I’m not sure if the following is totally accurate but for our purposes it will be sufficient. Let’s say that before this year, there were three basic sources of legalized gambling in Illinois. (I know of at least these three.)

1) racetrack betting and the later ensuing OTB parlors—owned by private companies and regulated and “taxed” by the State

2) lottery drawings—owned by the State and regulated by the State

3) “riverboat” casino gambling—owned by private companies and regulated and “taxed” by the State

This year, the State has legally given its blessing to a fourth legalized gambling activity—legalized video gaming. Consequently, the State of Illinois now has, at least, four different areas of legalized gambling. The fourth being:

4) video gaming—owned by many thousands of private companies located throughout the State and regulated and “taxed” by the State

Regardless of the number of different areas of legalized gambling allowed by the State, one thing is true. When a new activity is added—video gaming—only one of three possibilities can occur. Overall gambling can decrease, stay the same, or increase in the amount of dollars expended for gambling.

It seems unlikely that overall gambling will decrease. It seems obvious that the intent of the State legislature is NOT to decrease overall gambling. If gambling decreased, the State would receive less revenue defeating the avowed purpose of the law—to increase State revenue for capital works projects.

If overall gambling remains the same, then the mix of where money is being spent would have to change unless, of course, no one participated in the new addition to the mix—video gaming. Thus, dollars being used for racetrack and OTB parlors might decrease as has already occurred because of “riverboat” casinos and other factors. Or, a combination of the three might decrease with the extra money going toward video gaming. In that case, depending upon the “tax” on the other three and the combined mix of decrease, the State might again actually end up with less tax money than before the change in the law. However, it seems obvious that the intent of the State legislature is NOT to decrease the amount of revenue received through gambling.

Therefore, it seems obvious that the intent of this law is to deliberately increase the amount of overall gambling expenditures within the State to increase State revenue for capital works projects. (Of course, even with an overall increase in gambling revenue, one or more of the previous three allowed gambling activities might still decrease in dollars expended on that specific activity—switching to video gaming instead of the other activities.) And to accomplish this end, the gambling activity legalized is the “crack cocaine” of gambling—video gaming with all the evils and social costs associated with gambling as covered in previous posts. Does that make sense to you?

By the way, recently I was talking with a former Illinois State Senator who retired from the State Senate in, I believe, the early 2000’s. He said that video gaming had been considered by the State before and defeated by the State legislature. He also said that a compelling argument against video gaming was the large number of wives pleading with the members of the legislature NOT to pass a law legalizing video gaming. The reason: compulsive, addictive gambling activity by their husbands was destroying their families!

The previous legislature responded to that appeal by NOT legalizing video gaming. What has happened that has reversed the possibility of families being destroyed by predatory gambling? NOTHING!!! Nothing except the GREED of this legislature for MORE money!!! “Give US more money,” demands the legislature.

Did your Representative vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why? Did your Senator vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why?

Illinois General Assembly, video gaming, and community response


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)

Communities that banned video gambling

01) Beach Park

02) Carbondale

03) Country Club Hills

04) Elburn (When I taught at St. Charles, I lived in Elburn for a few years.)

05) Evanston

06) Lake Forest

07) Lincolnwood

08) Mt. Prospect

09) Naperville

10) Northbrook

11) Rochester

12) Rosemont

Counties that banned video gambling

01) Du Page County

Is your community/county listed? If so, very good. If not, why not?

Communities discussing video gambling

01) Campton Hills

02) Chicago

03) Effingham

04) Elgin

05) Glenview

06) Gurnee

07) Homewood

08) Lake in the Hills

09) Lindenhurst

10) Mettawa

11) Orland

12) Palos Heights

13) Park Ridge

14) Schaumburg

15) Southland

16) Springfield (The State Capitol!—my addition)

17) West Dundee

Counties discussing video gambling

01) Champaign County

02) Kane County

03) Lake County

04) Will County

Is your community/county listed? If so, very good. If not, why not?

Did your Representative vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why? Did your Senator vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why?

Illinois General Assembly, video gaming, and even more statements 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.championnews.net/

“Gambling, the IL GOP Platform, and the Illinois Family Institute
Posted September 18, 2009
By John Biver

‘Conventional wisdom’ in politics continues to hold that the party platforms are meaningless and just an exercise in quieting the base. It’s funny how that old adage doesn’t apply to the Democratic Party Platform, but only to the Republican Party Platform, which continues to be ignored by GOP leaders everywhere. This behavior has given us Obama, Pelosi, and Reid.

One issue in the news lately has been addressed in our state GOP platform. Evidently, quite a few local governments have been rejecting video gaming in their communities. While state house Republican minority leader Tom Cross might not demonstrate good sense when it comes to gaming, many at the local level realize that expanding gambling is a sure loser.

For the record, the Illinois GOP Platform has this to say about it:

‘We call on the Governor and the General Assembly to balance the state budget and provide for a responsible capital development program without resorting to the expansion of gambling, which harms Illinois’ families and our state’s business climate and presents costly challenges for both law enforcement and social service agencies.’ (If increased gambling including video gaming does, indeed, increase the costs of social service agencies, which to me is an obvious truism, then we have this wonderful circular pattern created by the State of Illinois—gambling is increased by the State, this increased gambling increases the “need” for increased social services, thus, State government increases the expenditures for social services, which increases the demand for more revenue for the State, which then results in the increase of more gambling to increase revenue, which results in the need to increase social services, which results in the increasing circular impact of gambling in the State. Isn’t that insanity! And it has happened according to my post of September 14, 2009 entitled “give US more money” “Total spending increased significantly from $43.5 Billion in fiscal year 2005 to $51.5 Billion in fiscal year 2007. This was a dollar increase of $8 Billion in two years and an 18+ percent increase in two years.”—my addition)

Obviously many Republican ‘leaders’ don’t care a wit about the party platform—and just as many could care less about the economic research on the topic of legalized gambling. The matter is currently being discussed in Kane County. One press report referred to the county government there as ‘budget-crunched.’ Kane has set up a task force to look at how video gaming might impact the two riverboats that operate on the Fox River.

Champion News has linked several good articles and websites that tackle the economic impact of gambling—you can view the list here. My personal favorite is probably this one:

‘Quotes about gambling from University of Illinois Professor John W. Kindt’

There are too many quotes to list—but here are three examples.

‘Every video [slot] gambling machine takes $60,000 out of the consumer economy.’
‘When the money is not spent on cars and refrigerators and is instead dropped into a slot machine, it leaves the [local] economy.’

‘A shrinking economy means lost sales and lost jobs.’

Again, read the entire list of quotes here.

(I am including the quotes here:

These quotes are from http://casinowatch.org/

“GAMBLING QUOTES
By John W. KindtProfessor of Business Administration
University of Illinois
6/25/05

01) ‘It is not economic development; it’s about taking money out of the consumer economy and shipping it off to Las Vegas’

02) ‘The casinos are walking out of states with at least $1 billion in their pockets to Las Vegas’

03) ‘This is an industry that generates addicted gamblers and they are desperate to get money’

04) ‘Gambling has a zero-sum economic effect in its market and, like legalizing cocaine, the socio-economic costs of legalizing gambling overwhelm the benefits’

05) ‘Every video [slot] gambling machine takes $60,000 out of the consumer economy’

06) ‘When the money is not spent on cars and refrigerators and is instead dropped into a slot machine, it leaves the economy’

07) ‘A shrinking economy means lost sales and lost jobs’

08) ‘$60,000 spent in a consumer economy multiplies by respending into $180,000’

09) ‘The real loss by gambling is $180,000 to the consumer economy for each slot machine’

10) ‘Studies in Australia have verified this drain on the economy by video gambling machines’

11) ‘for every slot machine you add, you lose one job per year from the consumer economy’

12) ‘Therefore 5,000 new video gambling machines costs the economy 5,000 lost jobs each year’

13) ‘Legalized gambling cost taxpayers $3 for every $1 in state revenue to government’

14) ‘Any legislator who says he doesn’t see the downside hasn’t done his homework’

15) ‘My bottom line is this is no time to be gambling with our economy’

16) ‘A 1999 report by a bipartisan federal panel on gambling concluded the United States should put a hold on further casinos until it is clear what the impact is on America’

17) ‘Gamblers spend 10 percent less on food; 25 percent less on clothing and 35 percent less on savings’ (And how much more do they go into debt? Debt being one of the major economic problems in our society. We all only have so much money and when gambling takes precedent over important priorities, the individual suffers, the economy suffers, and the society suffers. It is insanity to think that increasing gambling in any form is a viable solution to anything!—my addition)

18) ‘Thirty-seven percent of gamblers dip into their savings to fulfill their habit’ (And some stoop to crime!—my addition)

19) ‘In 1993, 40 percent of Minnesota restaurateurs reported declines attributed to casinos’

20) ‘Bankruptcies and addictions increase in areas with casinos’

21) ‘An Osage tribal study found that between $41 million to $50 million left a 50-mile radius around their own casino’ (Legalized gambling for Indian tribes was supposed to be the “salvation” of Indian tribes. (Of course, the only true salvation is spiritual and that only through JESUS, the CHRIST!) Has it occurred? For a small minority maybe? What damage has occurred within the surrounding community? I was a member of a jury where a man babysitting a woman’s son was accused of molesting him. Where was the mother? Gambling at a local Indian casino!—my addition)

22) ‘Your addiction rate will go up if you have gambling in this area’ (And video gaming, if allowed throughout the State, will help addiction rates increase throughout the State—my addition)

23) ‘Movies and Disney World don’t create addicts’ (Personally, I don’t believe this is a true statement. However, I include it because I’m including all the statements from the website—my addition.)

24) ‘The socio-economic impact of gambling addiction is comparable to drug and alcohol addiction’ (Which according to the logic of the State legislature makes it appropriate to place video gaming in establishments that permit alcohol consumption. What’s one more addiction to someone who is already addicted?—my addition)

25) ‘When governments legalize and encourage gambling, they are creating addictions among their citizens’ (DUH! And the governments are doing it DELIBERATELY!!!—my addition)

26) ‘The gambling interests like to point to the construction jobs, but those jobs go away’ (And the gambling goes on and on and on unchecked!—my addition)

27) ‘The social costs, and the increased tax costs due to addicted gamblers, stay behind’

28) ‘Gambling interests hire lots of economists to do impact studies, but what you need is cost-benefit analysis, and you’ll never see the industry finance those’ (Cost-benefit studies would be devastating!—my addition)

29) ‘No reputable economist anywhere believes its [gambling] an economic tool’ (It wasn’t when I was in economic classes at Illinois State University and the University of Arizona—my addition.)

30) ‘For every dollar of revenue generated by gambling, taxpayers must pay at least $3 in increased criminal justice costs, social welfare expenses, high regulatory costs, and increased infrastructure expenditures’

31) ‘Casinos don’t bring business except for the gambling boys,’

32) ‘Generally, traditional businesses were slow to recognize the way in which legalized gambling captured dollars from across the entire spectrum of the various consumer markets, but now they know’

33) ‘The (gambling) industry has a tendency to find public figures ... and these persons are used for their public image. ... These people generally come in for a couple of years and then they sell out and it’s 100 percent owned by out-of-state interests’

34) ‘People will spend a tremendous amount of money in casinos, money they normally would spend on refrigerators or a new car. Local businesses will suffer because they’ll lose consumer dollars to casinos.’ Quoting Donald Trump

35) ‘It’s lose, lose for the taxpayer’ ‘It’s lose, lose for the taxpayer’ ‘It’s lose, lose for the taxpayer’ (I repeated the statement two additional times—my addition.)

36) ‘Gambling is being subsidized by the taxpayers’

37) ‘[slots] are being called ‘the crack cocaine’ of the gaming industry’ ... ‘This is not my terminology,’ ... It’s the terminology of the majority of sociologists.’

38) ‘For every three machines, you lose two jobs out of the surrounding economy because people are dumping their money on gambling’

39) ‘If the government wants to stimulate the economy, it should outlaw gambling’

40) ‘Gambling is a catalyst for economic downturn’

41) ‘One to 2 percent of the population becomes addicted gamblers’

42) ‘27 percent to 55 percent of casino revenues come from problem or pathological gamblers’

43) ‘Bankruptcies increase 18 percent to 42 percent above the national average’

44) ‘Although crime and corruption decreases within a one-mile radius of a casino, it increases 10 percent within a 35-mile radius by the third year the casino is open.’

45) ‘If you want your 401(k) to come back, recriminalize gambling’

46) ‘It’s time to wipe the slate clean, recriminalize gambling, just like we did in this country 100 years ago’ (There are extremely valid reasons why gambling WAS ILLEGAL—my addition)

47) ‘And as far as jobs go, for every one job that the casino creates, one is lost in the 35-mile feeder market’

48) ‘Gambling drains the economy by taking money away from grocery stores and retail businesses and putting it in the hands of an industry that produces no product’

49) ‘While advocates of legalized gambling say it brings in revenues needed for education and other uses, it actually has led to higher taxes, loss of jobs, economic disruption of non-gambling businesses, increased crime and higher social-welfare costs’ (See the circular pattern created as explained earlier—my addition)

50) ‘If gambling were banned, those social costs would drop, tax revenues from consumer goods would increase, and money would be pumped into the productive economic sector’

51) ‘The lightning spread of ‘Western-style’ gambling overseas has increased the problems of addicted and problem gamblers, organized crime and alleged corruption in Asia and the Middle East’

52) ‘In permitting gambling enterprises to flourish in the United States and abroad, the United States undermines global socio-economic stability in contravention of its international obligations’

53) ‘Another threat to stability is the rise of Internet gambling’ (Which would REALLY cause problems and yet some legislators want it!—my addition)

54) "The faster the gambling activity, the more highly addictive it is; and the more addictive the gambling activity is, the more revenue it will generate for the industry’ (Video gaming!!!—my addition)

55) ‘Gambling addicts usually lose their focus at work and problem military gambling poses a national security threat’

56) ‘The military should get rid of video gambling devices on nearly 100 overseas bases and posts’

57) ‘According to a Defense Department study on military gambling in 2001, at least 2 percent of U.S. military personnel were pathological gamblers in 2001’

58) ‘Don’t bet on the $500 million in anticipated revenue from slots every year easing the tax burden on the average Joe’ (Gambling revenue has not eased the tax burden in Illinois! Government expenditures have increased and talk is that the State income tax needs to be increased by at least 50%. Were we “saved” by the lottery? Were we “saved” by “riverboat” gambling? Do you really believe we will be “saved” by video gaming? When will it end?—my addition)

59) ‘Gambling is a bad deal for taxpayers’

60) ‘The ABCs of legalized gambling—addictions, bankruptcies and crime’ (The new education mantra!—my addition)

61) ‘Bankruptcies will be up 18 to 42 percent around racinos areas [tracks] as people lose their money’

62) ‘Crime goes up 10 percent due to the gambling by the third year after racinos or slot machines are open, and then it continues upward after that’

63) ‘Your social costs, your costs to the taxpayers, are $3 for every $1 of benefits, it’s not good economic development’

64) ‘While gambling addiction can be a social justice reason for some to ban gambling, the economic evidence suggests that the social and economic costs of gambling are $3 to the taxpayers for every $1 in benefits’

65) ‘[State-sponsored gambling] produces no product, no new wealth, and so it makes no genuine contribution to economic development’

66) ‘A study in Illinois in the mid-1990s found that 65 percent of businesses were hurt by the proximity of gambling’ (It seems our present State legislature ignored the results of that study!—my addition)

67) ‘The common mistake that business people make is they’re going to get drive-by business’ ... ‘Only gas stations are helped’ (The money is spent gambling!—my addition)

68) ‘There would be economic disruption in Omaha from expanded gambling...You would just be moving Chernobyl closer to the population center’

69) ‘Bank deposits decline, more checks bounce and the number of bad loans goes up’

70) ‘Clothing sales plummet, rent delinquencies mount and even grocery sales shrink as gamblers, having tapped out their entertainment budgets, dip into dollars set aside for necessities’

71) ‘Legalized gambling is the leading cause of bankruptcy’

72) ‘Utah sells itself to Fortune 500 companies as a noncasino state where employers don’t have to be concerned about absenteeism and other problems associated with gambling’ (Including crime!—my addition)

73) ‘What we really need is a federal intervention plan, which calls for a moratorium on gambling in the U.S.’

74) ‘Actually, they should just roll it all back—get rid of gambling... It destabilizes the U.S. economy’ (And ruins lives!—my addition)

75) ‘Slots should be ‘recriminalized’ ... Don’t put VLTs [Video Lottery Terminals] in to try and save the raceways’

76) ‘Addiction to gambling—is comparable to drug addiction, according to reports out of Harvard’

77) ‘Taxpayers would likely be responsible for treating addicts’

78) ‘Lotteries boost state revenues in the short run but don’t feed the economy in the long run’

79) ‘Besides creating more compulsive gamblers, money spent on lotteries isn’t spent on other goods such as clothing or computers, which would trickle through to retailers, manufacturers and other parts of the economy’

80) ‘The smartest thing legislatures can do is get rid of (lotteries) and get those dollars buying consumer goods and get the sales tax revenues from that’ (AGREED—my addition)

81) ‘We beat the Great Depression without lotteries and legalized gambling’

82) ‘Sociologists almost uniformly report that increased gambling activities, which are promoted as sociologically ‘acceptable’ and which are made ‘accessible’ to larger numbers of people will increase the number of pathological gamblers’ (GOVERNMENT approved!!!—my addition)

83) ‘I would hate to see the state of Wisconsin make another mistake and locate another casino in a high-density population area’

84) ‘You bring in gambling into a major population base, and the more people you have going into a casino, the more people you have hooked on gambling’ (Ah, but the government receives more direct money without raising “taxes!”—my addition)

85) ‘It becomes a cannibalization of your pre-existing economy’ (Legislators seem not to care!—my addition)

86) ‘Then they’re like addicts; they can’t help themselves... They will steal, cheat, embezzle and commit other crimes just to get money to gamble’ (Gambling ultimately hurts the gambler and OTHERS!—my addition)

87) ‘In convenience gambling scenarios, discretionary spending and nondiscretionary ‘addicted gambling’ dollars were transferred from other forms of consumer expenditures... ‘Local competing businesses were thereby losing revenue.’
[Illegal gambling was/is often controlled by gangsters. Now that States are trying to take more and more control of gambling, does that make them GANGSTER GOVERNMENTS!!!—my addition]

Professor Kindt has been quoted in the following news sources as well as many others

Miami Herald, The Grand Rapids Press, Raleigh Biblical Recorder, http://www.gamblingmagazine.com/, The Journal-Standard, Times-Mail, Associated Baptist Press, www.news.uiuc.edu/biztips, USA TODAY, http://www.casinocitytimes.com/, Lancaster New Era, Managerial and Decision Economics, Boston Globe, http://www.stltoday.com/, http://www.fremontneb.com/, Associated Press, Omaha World-Herald, http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/, Times Herald-Record, http://www.sc-democrat.com/, Lancaster New Era, http://www.centredaily.com/, Gannett News Service, http://www.seattlepi.nwsource.com/, http://www.madison.com/, http://www.journalsentinel.com/, The Herald-Dispatch”

Back to the original article from http://www.championnews.net/.)

You can ignore Professor John Kindt if you want, but for your information, he’s studied the issue. He’s got the research to back it up, so you’re not just ignoring a guy with only an opinion. You can read the good professor’s bio here—he’s at the College of Business at the University of Illinois. There are a few of his works linked at Casino Watch’s website as well.

One group that is actively opposing the expansion of gambling in Illinois is the Illinois Family Institute. IFI’s Executive Director Dave Smith recently wrote:

‘I am happy to tell you that we are having some success in trying to mitigate the harms that the Video Porker law will bring to our communities. As you may remember, this legislation will allow any establishment that has a liquor license to have up to 5 video poker machines—this would make Illinois #1 in the nation for gambling—beating out Nevada.

IFI is working with other pro-family and anti-gambling activists. Inch by inch, we are getting local municipalities to ban the video poker machines!’

Dave listed five more communities that recently opted out of video gambling.

My personal recommendation is that you support IFI rather than Republican ‘leaders’ who ignore the party platform and vote to massively expand gambling in Illinois. You can find their names listed in bold type here. (I listed those who voted for and against the law on my post of September 17, 2009 entitled “Illinois General Assembly vote on video gaming.”

You’re in luck because tickets are still available for IFI’s October 6th Family, Faith, and Freedom banquet. Former governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is the guest speaker. You don’t want to miss this one. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Lastly, my colleague Doug Ibendahl has written on the outrage of the video gambling bill passed by the General Assembly last May here and here. Both articles are well worth your time.

John Biver is the Editor of Champion News.”

Did your Representative vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why? Did your Senator vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why?

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?

Illinois General Assembly, video gaming, and a lesson on law


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.

I am saddened that it seems necessary to write a post to remind government officials of the purpose of laws. However, from the video gaming law it seems apparent that a majority of our State legislature do not have a clue.

So tonight, a very basic and brief civic lesson for government officials:

I actually used a very small portion of the following in a Bible study class I taught Sunday morning teaching junior high school students.

What entities determine right from wrong? The answer is five different entities.

1) The first is oneself. We each, over time, develop our own concept of right and wrong. The Bible condemns individuals and groups (the Jewish nation) for “doing that which is right in their own eyes.” If everyone did “that which is right in his own eyes,” we would have, by definition, anarchy. If everyone did “that which is right in his own eyes,” he/she could justify murdering his neighbor for doing him harm because it was “right in his own eyes.”

2) The second is parents/family. For years, there has seemed to be an attack on the basic structure of society—parents and families. This attack seems to be to weaken the authority and ability of parents and the family to hand down the basic tenets of right and wrong. However, that’s a whole different topic that I can’t deal with tonight. Perhaps at some future time.

3) The third is society/culture. Every society/culture has its set standards of right and wrong. These, of course, can fluctuate and change over time.

For the above three entities, most of the values concerning right and wrong are not written down but rather develop over time and are passed forward from generation to generation. Of course, interaction between all three groups is normally occurring which changes and alters the concepts of right and wrong. However, there are always concepts of right and wrong no matter how distorted they might seem to others and/or outsiders.

4) The fourth is government. Society early on learned that to prevent anarchy, laws (rules and regulations) had to be developed to protect the members of society. And that is the purpose of State governments—to protect their citizens and others within their boundaries. For everyone to know and understand the laws, they had to be written down. To have an impact upon the society, the laws also had to be enforced and had to have some sanction imposed upon those who violated the laws.

The argument used by some that governments can’t legislate morality is PURE, TOTAL nonsense. All laws are written for that very purpose—to regulate right and wrong. Tax laws are part of the equation because all governments need the financial ability to enforce the rules and regulations and to provide the required sanctions when the rules and regulations are violated. If governments can’t regulate morality then all laws against murder would be useless. Of course, no law completely eliminates all occurrences of the behavior that is being regulated.

In fact, any law results in one of four reactions by people who make up the society. Who is a part of each of the four groups may change from law to law and the percent of members in the society who are in each of the four groups will change from law to law. Nevertheless, there are, for practical purposes, always four groups.

1) There are some people who never needed or will never need the law to be passed. According to their value system of right and wrong, they would never participate in that behavior. Thus, even if there was no law, their behavior would not change. For example, being opposed to gambling, they would not participate in video gaming if illegal and they would not participate in video gaming if legal. Their behavior in that specific area will not change whether legal or illegal.

2) There are those who will do as they please regardless of the law. If the behavior is illegal they will do it anyway except to the extent they fear being caught and punished. Thus, they would not murder someone next to a policeman unless that policeman was involved. But, if they felt it was appropriate and they had dismissed enforcement or sanctions, they would have no qualms with committing murder. Thus, even if video gaming is illegal, they would still participate in that illegal behavior.

3) There are those who will not participate in a behavior if it is illegal, but if legal, they will. Often, this group is the most important of the four groups in relation to that particular law. Whether or not a specific activity is legal or illegal DOES have a great impact on these individuals. How many there are in this group does vary however. And this is one area that I have not read about in any of the news stories on video gaming.

How many more people will gamble because video gaming is NOW legal who did NOT gamble before when it was illegal? Did the State legislature even consider this? How many more lives will be ruined through a change in the law. A change that now says that video gaming is perfectly acceptable—it is no longer wrong behavior—and has the BLESSING of State government. How many people will this change in law CORRUPT in the name of generating MORE revenue for the State?

4) The fourth group is between groups two and three. Under the appropriate circumstance(s) they will participate in an illegal activity but they do not have the attitude of the second group that I will do it regardless of the law. In general, they weight, in part, whether or not the law will be enforced and if the sanctions that could be placed upon the individual is a sufficient deterrent. For example, if the law is vigorously enforced and if the penalty is conceived as high, the individuals would be less likely to participate in the behavior. If enforcement is lax and penalties are slight, they will be more likely to participate.

We know that, at one time, gambling including video gaming was considered improper, wrong behavior. How do we know this? Because there were laws against the behavior. Governments do not rationally have laws prohibiting positive, right behavior.

And yet, I have not read one instance of any legislator claiming that gambling including video gaming is now positive, right behavior. What I have read are rationalizations. For example, “It will provide jobs!” Nonsense. It is a transfer of money. It may provide different types of jobs than would be provided with a different mix of spending. However, it can not provide new jobs because it is a transfer of money from one group (individual gamblers) to other groups (governments, video gaming machine makers, shop owners who provide video gaming, and some actual winners).

What is this new law? It’s a scheme to give MORE money and power to State government. It’s a “the ends justify the means” concept of providing more money to State government even though it will undoubtedly increase gambling addiction and cause local problems. And the State knows it! Why else would they provide money within the law for “programs for the treatment of compulsive gambling,” prohibit the use of the machines for people under the age of twenty-one, and provide a means for both communities and unincorporated areas of a county to opt out of the law?

Did your Representative vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why? Did your Senator vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why?

Illinois General Assembly, video gaming, and gambling information from the National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion


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.

The following is from http://www.ncalg.org/. Although the article deals more with gambling in general and casinos in particular, the content is also relevant to video gaming. In fact, maybe more so. Some authorities have labeled video gaming as the “crack cocaine” of gambling—even more addictive than other types of gambling.

For your information: Some of the links do not lead to the appropriate website. I had difficulty keeping some of the links alive when I transposed them—specifically the footnotes in the body of the story. The footnote references are at the end of the article and all those links should work. The article put into my format:

“Legislators from Gambling States challenged to follow Founders:
NCAGE (National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion—my addition) national spokesman and field director Tom Grey addressed the winter 2008 meeting of the National Council of Legislators from Gambling States. Read the prepared speech

NCAGE field coordinator Tom Grey debated Frank Fahrenkopf in Cleveland just before the November 2006 elections. Fahrenkopf is CEO for the American Gaming Association, and thus stands as the leading national spokesman for commercial casinos.

But would Fahrenkopf want one of his products in his own home town? Here’s his comment:

‘People have the right to go to the ballot box and determine what they want the quality of life to be in their own area. Now if someone were to come along and tell me that they were going to put a casino in McLean, Virginia, where I live, I would probably work very, very hard against it. I just don’t—what’s the old saying, ‘NIMBY, not in my back yard?’ Now I may be in favor of gaming, but I just don’t want it located in a particular area.’—AGA CEO Frank Fahrenkopf in Cleveland, Ohio, Oct. 24, 2006See and hear it for yourself! (Windows Media File)

The National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion (NCAGE) has a new web log site to discuss gambling topics. The site is powered by TypePad, one of the nation’s leading ‘blog’ hosts. You can log in at http://ncage.typepad.com/bets_off_blog/”

“Real costs for everyone

Gambling costs more than raising taxes, even for those who NEVER gamble! Each compulsive gambler costs the economy between $14,006 and $22,077 per year.[i] If 2% become addicted, that’s $280 to $440 per year paid by every other citizen.

Trading jobs kills development

Most casinos attract 80% or more of their market from a 35-50 mile radius. Casinos absorb existing entertainment, restaurant and hotel business, and deplete dollars available to other retail businesses. That destroys other jobs in the trade area and eliminates their sales, employment and property tax contributions.[ii]

Illegal gambling remains

Legalizing gambling does not reduce illegal gambling.[iii] Legalized gambling may even increase illegal gambling because untaxed illegal operators may offer better odds, bigger payoffs and loans that legal operations cannot. Patrons in gambling states feel gambling is generally legal and they are less averse to gambling in unlicensed establishments. Law enforcement in gambling states see illegal gambling as a state revenue issue rather than a criminal activity, and may be less motivated to investigate.

Gambling brings addiction

When gambling appears in a community, it brings a wave of addiction. In a mature gambling market, compulsive gambling typically seizes the lives of 1.5% to 2.5% of the adult population. That amounts to three to five times the number of people suffering from cancer. (The former mayor of Pekin, which is the largest community in Tazewell County where Morton (my town) is located, was convicted for illegally using a Pekin city credit card—misuse of government funds—at one of Illinois’ riverboat gambling casinos which is also located in Tazewell County but not on (It is next to the river.) the Illinois River—thus not technically a riverboat casino. But then, isn’t that just a technicality?—my addition)

‘Gambling is an addictive behavior, make no mistake about it . . . Gambling has all the properties of a psychoactive substance, and again, the reason is that it changes the neurochemistry of the brain.’[iv]

The American Psychiatric Association says between 1% and 3% of the U.S. population is addicted to gambling, depending on location and demographics.[v] Youth have even higher addiction rates, between 4 an 8%.[vi]

Proximity and poverty matter

Addiction rates double within 50 miles of a casino. [vii] Probable pathological gambling in Nevada in 2000 measured 3.5%. Other states ranged from 2.1% in North Dakota in 2000 to 4.9% in Mississippi in 1996.[viii] A casino within 10 miles of a home yields a 90% increased risk of its occupants becoming pathological or problem gamblers. Neighborhood disadvantage increases that risk another 69%.[ix] Slots and other gambling machines push susceptible players to the pathological level in an average of 1.08 years, vs. 3.58 years with more ‘conventional’ forms of table and racetrack gambling.[x]

Gambling doubles bankruptcy

It takes three to five years for gamblers in a newly opened market to exhaust their resources. When addiction ripens in the market, so do the social costs.

The most recent study of all the casino counties in the nation confirmed personal bankruptcy rates are 100% higher in counties with casinos than in counties without casinos. [xi]

Gambling increases crime

Desperate to ‘chase’ and recover gambling losses, pathological gamblers often turn to crime. Fraud and embezzlement become common among formerly hard-working and highly trusted people. Violent crimes also increase. Three years after the introduction of casinos in Atlantic City, there was a tripling of total crimes. Per capita crime there jumped from 50th in the nation to first.[xii] Comparing crime rates for murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft reveals Nevada is the most dangerous place to live in the United States. [xiii]

Expect Suicides

A study of addicted gamblers revealed, ‘Between 20% and 30% of the respondents made actual suicide attempts. No other addictive population has had as high a prevalence for attempts.’[xiv] Nevada has been the highest in the nation for suicides for 10 of the last 12 years.[xv]

[i] Grinols, Earl L., “Cutting the Cards and Craps, right thinking about gambling economics.” P. 14.

[ii] Grinols, Earl L. Gambling in America, Costs and Benefits, p.p. 55-92.

[iii] Abt, Vickie, Ph.D., Univ. Penn. Cited in Executive Summary, Casinos in Florida: An analysis of the Economic and Social Impacts, for the Florida Office of Planning and Budgeting

[iv] Shaffer, Howard, Harvard University addictions department, quoted by Kindt in Managerial and Decision Economics, 22: p. 17-63

[v] American Psychiatric Association, DSM-IV, P.673.

[vi] Shaffer, H.J. & Hall, M.N. (1996). Estimating prevalence of adolescent gambling disorders: A quantitative synthesis and guide toward standard gambling nomenclature. Journal of Gambling Studies, 12, 193–214.

[vii] National Gambling Impact Study Commission, “Final Report” Sec. 4, p...5.

[viii] Volberg, Rachel A., Ph.D. “Gambling and Problem Gambling in Nevada: Report to the Nev. Depart. of Human Resources,” p. iii.

[ix] Welte, John W.; Wieczorek, William F.; Barnes, Grace M.; Hoffman, Joseph H. Reference cited in “The Relationship of Ecological and Geographic Factors to Gambling Behavior and Pathology” p.15

[x] Breen, Robert B. and Zimmerman, Mark; “Rapid Onset of Pathological Gambling in Machine Gamblers” p.2

[xi] Gross, Ernie and Morse, Edward. “The Impact of Casio Gambling on Bankruptcy Rates: A County Level Analysis.) p. 1

[xii] Schwer, R. Keith; Thompson, William N.; Nakamuro, Daryl; “Beyond the Limits of Recreation: Social Costs of Gambling in Southern Nevada.” p. 4

[xiii] Morgan Quitno Press, “Determining the Safest and Most Dangerous State Rankings” http://www.governmentguide.com/community_and_home/where_i_live/factors.adp

[xiv] Widgery, Robin, President of Social Systems. “Warning: Legal Gambling is a Costly Game.” 1994 edition.

[xv] http://www.suicidology.org/”

Did your Representative vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why? Did your Senator vote to increase gambling in Illinois? Why?