Proposal includes casinos for Chicago, Rockford, Danville, Lake County,
South Suburbs of Chicago, Williamson County, plus video slot machines galore.

On February 28th, the Illinois Senate passed SB 7 – a massive gambling bill – by a vote of 31-26.  Yet for lawmakers with an insatiable hunger for revenue at the expense of well-documented social costs, it wasn’t enough.

Yesterday, the Illinois Senate passed an amended version of SB 7 to exploit even more citizens, by a vote of  33-24 with 1 voting present.  (See roll call chart below.)

This oppressive and myopic legislation is sponsored by Illinois Senators Terry Link (D-Gurnee), Dave Syverson (R-Rockford), Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and Donne Trotter (D-Chicago). The passage of this bill demonstrates that our state lawmakers are not serious about solving the fiscal problems of the state — specifically the wasteful spending and bloat that is Illinois government.  Instead, a majority of politicians in the Illinois Senate gave their stamp of approval to an unstable and unfair source of “revenue,” while ignoring the many social costs that come with a vice like gambling.

According to Illinois Churches in Action, this legislation will give special perks to the gambling industry while soaking hard working families:

SB 7 includes a massive casino for Chicago, slots machines at Chicago Airports, additional land-based casinos for Rockford, Danville, Lake County, South Suburbs of Chicago, Williamson County Winery, and at 4 racetracks.

SB 7 allows progressive jackpots at casinos and video gambling establishments and expands video gambling by doubling the maximum bet and more than doubling the jackpot.

The bill lowers taxes on slot machines and table games and gives tax breaks to racetracks and casinos.  SB 7 will not solve the budget problem, but it will increase addiction and problem gambling.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to send your state representative an email or a fax to tell them “NO MORE GAMBLING — PERIOD.” Don’t delay in speaking out. With only 2 weeks left before state lawmakers adjourn for the summer, this gambling bill may move fast.

Background

In addition to the 10 casinos Illinois currently has, residents face the prospect of an additional 6 casinos (for a total of 16), making Illinois a top contender for the most anti-family and predatory gambling state in the nation. If we consider all the video slot machines currently in the state, plus all the Lottery fleecing “games,” we are well underway to securing the title of  being the top “swindle state” in America.

Think about the devastation a casino would bring to the poorest families in Chicago.  Impoverished working poor would be encouraged by this foolish policy to seek out the elusive “pot of gold” — and the “key” to happiness by gambling away their meager resources.  To make matters worse, they would have easy access to a Chicago casino via public transportation.

Moreover, the National Gambling Impact Study Commission estimated that approximately 15 million U.S. citizens have a gambling problem and/or are pathological gambling addicts. Their research also shows that addiction rates double within 50 miles of a casino. Think of all the people within a 50-mile radius of 15 casinos and how many new gambling addicts the state will help produce with this foolish proposal. There is enormous potential for many new gambling addicts in Chicago-land alone. How is this good public policy?

The American Psychiatric Association says that symptoms of pathological gambling include the following: lying about the amount of time or money spent gambling, needing to borrow money to get by due to gambling losses, gambling larger amounts of money to try to win back previous losses, and committing crimes to obtain money to gamble.

Researchers believe that crimes committed by compulsive gamblers are often under-reported. Some of these crimes include writing bad checks, check forgery, fraud, and embezzlement.

Some gamblers turn to street crime. The National Institute of Justice reported that 30 percent of pathological gamblers who were arrested in Las Vegas and Des Moines admitted that they had committed a robbery within the past year. About 13 percent of them admitted they had assaulted someone to get money.

Although some people win at the casinos, winning consistently is rare. And those people who believe they will win their money back after a losing streak are deluding themselves. The truth is one in five people addicted to gambling will file for bankruptcy. Casinos would not be able to stay in business if people won more than they lost.

Studies also show that both divorce and suicide rates are higher for pathological gamblers than non-gamblers. Gamblers Anonymous surveyed approximately 400 members and found that two-thirds had thought of suicide, 77 percent had wanted to die, and 47 percent had a definite plan to kill themselves.

Economics professor, Earl Grinols, says in his book, Gambling in America: Costs and Benefits, the annual cost of one addicted gambler to society is $10,330. Grinols argues that the costs of casino-derived revenues exceed the benefits by a factor of more than 3 to 1.

It is clear, the social costs of gambling far outweigh any perceived benefits.

How did they vote?

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Remember when Illinois politicians told us revenue from riverboat casinos would come from out-of-state residents? Then surrounding states built casinos to compete with Illinois. Many of the same companies owned casinos in both states and profited from the expansion.

Now politicians, who are looking for more revenue to pay mounting bills, pension obligations and budget shortfalls, want a massive expansion of casino gambling.  This time, however, Illinois residents will be targeted to gamble and lose their money.

While some want to capture the money Illinois residents are losing in other states, a casino in Chicago will create more gamblers with greater social costs, and more money will leave the state with casino companies or casino managers.

With 2.7 million people, Chicago is one the largest population centers in the country. Studies have shown the rate of pathological gambling is significantly higher among minorities and low-income individuals. The National Gambling Impact Study Commission found the rate of pathological gambling doubles within 50 miles of a casino. Making gambling more accessible in the metropolitan area will increase the amount of gambling and harm.

Addiction, bankruptcy, embezzlement, child abuse/neglect, and suicide are some of the social costs that will increase. Casinos do not just shift crime from neighboring regions, but create crime, according to a study by Professors Earl Grinols and David Mustard.

For every $1 of revenue gambling interests indicate is being contributed in taxes, it costs taxpayers $3 in social welfare, criminal justice, and regulatory costs, according to the U.S. International Gambling Report. The costs will be borne by all residents, whether you gamble or not.

A Chicago casino would be a perpetual license that could never be revoked. Other details would be worked out behind closed doors and hidden from public view until a “deal” is finalized and ready for a vote. Remember all the problems with the Video Gambling Act, which was introduced and passed in a little over 24 hours? Now many municipalities are trying to limit the number of machines and prevent video gambling parlors.

Casinos have closed in Atlantic City and Mississippi, and revenue at Illinois casinos has declined for several years. Gambling is an unstable source of revenue. Adding more casinos in Illinois will not solve the state’s financial problems, and a massive casino gambling expansion in Chicago will create untold harm for years to come.

Originally posted at Chicago.SunTimes.com.

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Governor Patrick Quinn must decide if he will veto the massive gambling bill  SB 1849 today or tomorrow. This bill, sponsored by State Senator Terry Link (D-Lincolnshire) and State Representative Lou Lang (D-Skokie), would authorize five new casinos in Illinois. These casinos would be located in the cities of Chicago, Rockford, Danville, Park City, and one in the southern suburbs of Chicago. It would also add video slot machines at the existing six horse race tracks, bringing the total number of casino-like establishments in Illinois to twenty-one.  

The Chicago casino would have 4,000 gambling positions, over twice as many as the other casinos. The three racetrack casinos in Cook County would have 1,200 gambling positions — the same size as existing casinos. 

The research is clear — the presence of a gambling facility within 50 miles roughly doubles the prevalence of problem and pathological gamblers, according to a study by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. There is enormous potential for many new gambling addicts in Chicagoland alone. This is not good public policy.

This bill passed the Illinois House on May 23, 2012 by a vote of 69-47-2 and then passed the Illinois Senate on May 31, 2012 by a vote of 30-26-3. It was sent to Gov. Quinn on June 29, 2012.

The deadline for Governor to sign or veto SB 1849, the massive gambling expansion bill, is Tuesday, August 28th.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to send Gov. Quinn an email or a fax asking him to veto SB 1849. Then please follow up with a phone call to the Governor’s office to leave the same message, “Please veto SB 1849!”  

The toll-free number to Gov. Quinn’s off is Call 800-642-3112.  Please do this today!

According to an article in the Daily Herald newspaper,  Gov. Quinn says he isn’t sure if he will veto this terrible anti-family gambling bill. He needs to receive a flood of calls and emails today encouraging him to follow through on his veto threat. Even the Chicago Tribune called for a veto of this legislation in a recent Op/Ed.

Gambling revenue promises are rarely met. Gambling interests are pushing for a vote on a massive expansion bill during the final days of the legislative session. SB 1849 legalizes 11 more casinos, including a city-owned casino in Chicago and six racetrack casinos.

During the past 21 years, legislators have legalized riverboat gambling, off-track betting, dockside gambling, advanced deposit wagering, Internet lottery and video gambling. With all that gambling revenue coming in, why does the state have such a large backlog of unpaid bills?

There would be little concern about how much gambling we have in Illinois if it were not for the social problems and costs that gambling creates. Casinos do not just shift crime from neighboring regions, but create crime, according to a study by Professors Earl Grinols and David Mustard. For every $1 of revenue gambling that interests indicate is being contributed in taxes, it costs taxpayers $3 or more in social welfare, criminal justice and regulatory costs. The average cost to society per pathological gambler per year is $13,586.

One purpose of the bill is to keep and attract Illinois residents to gamble. The presence of a gambling facility within 50 miles roughly doubles the prevalence of problem and pathological gambling, according to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. The rate of pathological gambling is significantly higher among minorities and low income individuals.

Gov. Pat Quinn, who has continually opposed slot machines at racetracks, has said the state cannot gamble its way to prosperity. Call your legislators at (217) 782-2000 and the governor at (800) 642-3112 and ask them to Vote “no” on SB 1849.