From Stop Predatory Gambling

Bills were introduced in both the Illinois House (HB 2239 and HB 2320) and Senate (SB 1656) that would allow gambling operators with Illinois licenses to offer online casino-style gambling. This would massively increase the addiction risk currently posed by online gambling avenues like sports betting, creating new and even more deadly opportunities for secretive 24/7 gambling activity that prey on those prone to addiction.

Previous attempts to pass this type of legislation have been blocked but we are highly attentive to these bills in the current session. Look out for forthcoming actions including contacting your legislators and joining Stop Predatory Gambling in Springfield to oppose these bills.

Did You Know?

Gambling is recognized as an addiction on the same level as heroin, cocaine, and opioids in the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM V, used by health care providers and insurers as the principal source for mental health diagnoses.

The Lancet, one of the most respected medical journals in the world, publicly declared gambling to be “an urgent, neglected, understudied and worsening public health predicament.”

U.S. families are on course to lose more than $1 trillion of personal wealth to commercialized gambling over the next 8 years, an average of at least $120 -$130 billion of lost wealth every year.

Kids are being harmed by a bombardment of gambling advertising like never before, normalizing them to the dangers of commercialized gambling and making them far more likely to develop problems later in life.

Join Stop Predatory Gambling on a Zoom Call

Join Stop Predatory Gambling on Zoom March 20th, at 7:30-8pm Central at this link. For this meeting they will be discussing and planning for trips to Springfield to build relationships with legislators and lobby against the proposed online casino-style gambling bills.

These meetings are a key opportunity for members to connect with one another and to share updates on gambling policy and how you can get involved. These will be short, simple, and to-the-point meetings of no more than 30 minutes.

Meet others, hear what we’re doing and how you can help, and share any updates from your area. For info on calling in by phone, please email zach@stoppredatorygambling.org.

TAKE ACTION: Click HERE to email your state rep and state senator to oppose all attempts to expand online casino-style gambling which will undoubtedly exploit and defraud more citizens, further the greed of big gambling operators, and feed the lust for power of politicians that do their bidding.

For more information, watch The Truth About the Economic Impact of Casinos.

There are currently 11 casinos operating in Illinois: Rockford, East Peoria, Alton, Rock Island, Elgin, Metropolis, Aurora, East St. Louis, Joliet Hollywood, Joliet Harrah’s and Des Plaines. There are 5 more being planned or built, in Danville, Carterville, Homewood, Chicago and Waukegan.

The Gaming Board heard sobering details of a report released in July from the state of Illinois on its 383,000 residents with gambling problems.

*Problem gamblers in Illinois spent on average $16,750 on gambling on average per year. With that, 30% of them report gambling debt of over $50,000.

*10% of this group have either considered or attempted suicide. More than 50% Say Gambling Led To Neglecting Family / Kids

*761,000 adults in Illinois are at risk for developing a gambling addiction.

What about slot machines everywhere? Well, there are currently 43,128 machines in operation in bars, restaurants and truck stops. Moreover, with the legalization of Internet and sports betting, many of us have casinos at our finger tips on our smart phones.

It is vitally important that we warn our children and grandchildren that the success of the gambling industry is built on losers. Gambling addictions are real and contribute to broken families, financial ruin, and crime.

Two lists? Twenty years ago, the Illinois Gaming Board launched a Statewide Casino Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program for Problem Gamblers that allows persons who have determined they are problem gamblers to self-exclude themselves from all Illinois casinos.

In 2018, they established a voluntary, confidential Problem Gambling Registry for Video Gaming. Persons enrolled in the registry will receive regular emails providing information on problem gambling and containing links to problem gambling prevention and treatment resources available in Illinois.

1 Timothy 6:10 warns us about the “love of money.” The Bible has a few more things to say about this topic: See Luke 12:15; 1 Cor. 6:12; Ecc 5:10; Prov 28:19; 2 Peter 2:19; Romans 12:2; James 1:14-15; Prov. 3:5; Ps. 62:10; and Prov 23:5.

“Gambling is the child of avarice,
the brother of iniquity,
and the father of mischief.”
~George Washington~

Marijuana-Linked Vehicle Deaths Spiking

Marijuana use is increasing in the United States, and according to a recent report by the Governors Highway Safety Association, Responsibility.org and the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving, more drivers in fatal crashes tested positive for using the drug behind the wheel during the pandemic than before it.

Science confirms that THC directly affects the parts of the brain responsible for attention, decision-making, fine motor skills, and reaction time, which are all critical for safe driving. Unlike alcohol, THC stays in your system for days and possibly weeks (for heavy users). Workplace accidents are sure to increase as well.

In 2019, 18 percent of people aged 12 and older in the nation reported using pot in the past year, up from 11 percent in 2002. IFI warned state lawmakers about this inevitable trend of increase use and traffic accidents, but Big Marijuana deceived them and distracted them a new source of tax revenue.

Written by Nic Valdespino

When discussing covetousness, Christians often cite 1 Timothy 6:10 which states, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” However, many often forget to mention the preceding verse: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” The Bible clearly warns us about the evils inherent within the relentless pursuit of wealth, and this teaching should be applied when individuals consider gambling. As a college student who has watched a number of friends become compulsive gamblers, I hope and pray that my peers will internalize the Lord’s advice and refrain from engaging in such a destructive habit.

I began my college career at a small private university in Virginia where the average family income of a student is greater than $250,000. Although I came from a relatively modest background and attended public high school, many of my classmates were the children of business tycoons and government officials born into generational wealth. As a result, a number of my closest friends had access to sizable checking accounts with relatively little oversight from their parents. Now, I do not believe there is anything inherently wrong about achieving success in the professional world or accruing wealth. However, I do believe that with great wealth comes great responsibility, and students who are receiving financial assistance from their parents should practice good stewardship of their family’s resources. Most of my friends adhered to this principle, but once virtual sports gambling emerged, many began to crumble.

One night, as my fraternity brothers and I sat around watching a meaningless baseball game on a weekday night, I noticed considerable tension in the room. I could not fathom why anyone would have such strong feelings toward a game between the Pirates and the Marlins, as none of my friends rooted for these teams or even played baseball. Growing up in a Christian household, I had been sheltered from the cruelties of gambling. Therefore, I was completely unaware of the possibility that my friends had bet money on the sporting event, especially because gambling had not yet been legalized in Virginia. Nonetheless, I quickly discovered that one of my friends had come in contact with an out-of-state bookie, permitting him to wager thousands of dollars of his parents’ money on a Marlins’ victory. This realization shocked me, and I questioned my friend, who served as a sort of mentor to me, what would happen if the Marlins lost. His response: “Let’s hope we don’t find out.”

Unfortunately for my friend and his family, the Marlins did lose that evening. The financial mismanagement sowed discord within his family, leading to a number of arguments and the erosion of vital parental support. Like so many other young people drawn in by what many say are the false promises of sports wagering giants like FanDuel, my friend descended into the pits of debt, a problem he sought to solve with more gambling.

According to a combination of national studies, approximately 1 in 20 college students meet the criteria for compulsive gambling. The rise in gambling addiction among the adolescent population is startling because the habit is associated with a host of other risky behaviors that can prove detrimental to a student’s personal life. The International Center for Responsible Gaming finds that, “students with gambling problems are more likely to use tobaccos, drink heavily or binge drink, smoke marijuana or use other illegal drugs, drive under the influence, and have a low GPA.” Additionally, studies have shown that approximately 40 percent of problem gamblers commit crimes, like embezzlement, theft, and drug distribution, to support their addiction. Thus, gambling proves detrimental to many students’ personal lives.

Gambling addictions also destroy families. A meta-analysis of 14 studies related to gambling and domestic violence discovered over 36 percent of families that contain an individual with problematic betting habits face domestic violence or child abuse. The betting habits also lead to increased familial stress, which translates into higher rates of divorce. The lifetime divorce rate for pathological gamblers is estimated to be from around 40 to over 50 percent. Therefore, I pray that my college peers who have become enmeshed in the destructive net of sports gambling abandon the behavior before they get married and become parents.

After my sophomore year of college, I decided to transfer to a large public university in hopes of escaping the growing unscrupulous culture of the wealthy, private school I attended in the past. Sadly, my hopes proved delusive as a number of my peers at my new school, despite growing up in middle-class backgrounds, maintained similar debilitating gambling habits.

When I arrived for my first day of class, I made friends with a bright young man who was pursuing a career as an investment banker. Despite his financial acumen, he had begun betting on sports games after receiving an offer from DraftKings, which promised $50 in free wagering credits. His habit did not cease once the free bets were exhausted, however, and he rapidly fell into debt, prompting him to request additional financial assistance from his blue-collar family. His parents warned of the repercussions of continued financial mismanagement, but he ignored them, continuing to gamble in hopes of striking a massive payday that would lift him out of the red. The day of reckoning finally came when my friend’s parents discovered that he owed DraftKings over $10,000. After months of rancorous disputes, the family elected to cut off their son financially, and he was forced to drop out of school in order to pay off his debt. To this day, he refuses to speak to his parents, emblematic of the harms associated with virtual sports betting.

I am so thankful to have been reared in a household that engrained in me the importance of being a good steward of wealth. My father often repeats Proverbs 15:27, “a greedy man brings trouble to his family,” in order to highlight the importance of remaining content with your finances. I recognize, however, that many children are not as blessed and fortunate as I am.

Thus, our government should not legalize and thereby encourage more gambling- but instead should have safeguards in place that help prevent children2 from falling into the same trap my college acquaintances have.

Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.
~1 Corinthians 10:24~

This article was originally published by NCFamily.org.

I write this article as a concerned observer, not as an expert on the phenomenon of gambling and not as someone who ever struggled with gambling. I have simply noticed the pervasive presence of gambling stats and odds in the world of sports, coupled with invitations to download gambling apps, prompting me to wonder how many more Americans will becomes slaves to this highly addictive habit. Or, if they don’t become slaves to gambling, how many will simply lose lots of money indulging this habit?

Some years ago, a pastor told me that a well-known worship leader was scheduled to be at his church but never showed up. It turns out that the man had a secret gambling addiction, and he fell back into his old habit while on the road, because of which he was a no-show that night. Gambling, at least for a season, had destroyed his ministry.

It’s a sad story, but it’s also illustrative. Gambling addictions are as real as drug and alcohol addictions, and in their own unique way, they can be just as destructive.

That’s why the rise of sports-related gambling has gotten my attention. It really is everywhere.

For me, watching sports one night on a free weekend is a nice way to relax or unwind. Or I’ll read some sports pages online after hours of writing. It’s a harmless way to chill and wind down.

But with some sports, at the beginning of the event, you’re told what the latest odds are. Then, as the event unfolds, in live, real time, you’re told what the latest betting odds are, being adjusted by the minute. Obviously, people are betting all the time.

Or you’re reading about the buildup to a major game or event, and in the same article that you’re reading, there’s a betting section as well. “We recommend putting your money here.”

Then there are the ads for betting websites and apps. They, too, seem to be everywhere these days. Have you noticed this as well?

Well it appears that we’re not the only ones taking notice.

A Forbes headline on February 15, 2022 announced, “U.S. Gambling Revenue Hit Record $53 Billion In 2021.”

As the article explained, “The nation’s casinos and gaming mobile apps rang up a record $53 billion in revenue last year, according to a report by the American Gaming Association. Revenue is up 21% from the previous annual record set in 2019, which was just before the pandemic forced much of the industry’s casinos to close for months.

“Bill Miller, the president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, called 2021 a ‘remarkable’ year during a press conference on Tuesday.”

Yes, noted Miller, this really bucked the societal trends. He said, “Our incredible rate of recovery sets us apart from others in the hospitality sector and the broader economy.”

That’s why we should be very concerned. What Miller, from his perspective, calls “incredible” and “remarkable,” I call really bad news.

That’s why CBN featured a story on, “The Rise of Sports Gambling in America” on April 8, 2022.

And that’s why, as I was writing this op-ed piece tonight (July 11), I spotted an article posted just three hours earlier on the MoneyWise website, starting with these jarring words: “We’ve seen people go from six-figure incomes … to living on the streets’: Why it’s easier than ever to get addicted to gambling. Experts say there needs to be more education and awareness around this ‘invisible addiction.’”

Chew on that for a moment: going “from six-figure incomes … to living on the streets,” all because of gambling. Shouldn’t this give all of us cause for concern?

As explained in the article by Serah Lewis, “Gambling has long been one of Americans’ favorite pastimes. And access to it has only gotten easier since 2018, when the Supreme Court overturned a decision that limited sports betting to Nevada. Ads and apps have been popping up everywhere since, even some featuring celebrities like Aaron Paul and Shaquille O’Neal.

“But those ads can have a troubling effect, says [former gambling addict Noah Vineberg]. Because while they may show people winning, ‘winners’ are not who the advertisers are really trying to target.

“‘The client they’re after is the “me” that’s going to go to four different check-cashing places … and going to just try and make enough on the weekend in my bets to cover my butt by Monday.’

“And it’s only going to get more difficult for people like Vineberg. More than two dozen states have legalized sports betting in the past few years. And according to a report by the American Gaming Association, sports betting and iGaming revenue grew by double digit percentages in April from the previous year.”

Lewis also quotes Mike Bergeron, a certified credit counselor at Credit Canada, who noted that, with gambling apps. “It’s just so easily accessible. Everywhere you’re at — it’s on your phone, it’s at home on your computer, you can do it at work on your lunch break.”

“It’s just so easily accessible,” says Bergeron. “Everywhere you’re at — it’s on your phone, it’s at home on your computer, you can do it at work on your lunch break.”

And in “an interview with Newsweek earlier this year, Kevin Whyte, the executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, said his organization saw a 45% increase in gambling hotline calls and a 100% increase in text and chat communications in the first year after the Supreme Court decision.

“‘We believe that the expansion of online gambling, including sports betting, has increased the severity and rate of gambling problems,’ Whyte said.”

So, it appears that my casual observations, coupled with my understanding of human nature and the power of addiction, are being confirmed by experts in the field, many of whom are now raising their voices.

In that same spirit, I now say: Careful! If you play with fire, you will be burned.

(Searching online for the words “help for those with gambling addictions” might be a good place to start. The article, cited above by Lewis, also has some helpful advice. And as always, biblical principles for dealing with sin and temptation apply here as well.)

This article was originally published at AskDrBrown.org.

Dear Tinley Park Neighbors,

The Village Board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Village Hall, 16250 S.Oak Park Ave.  to consider annexing of land for a gas station to become a truck stop.  If approved, the truck stop, near a residential area, could have video gambling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Local residents could gamble all night on the video gambling machines.

The Illinois Gaming Board has fined numerous video gambling establishments and 7 truck stops $5,000 each for failure to prevent access to or play of video gambling terminals by persons under the age of 21.  People will gamble closest to where they live.  Making gambling more accessible and convenient in a residential area will increase addiction and harm.  Area residents have LOST over $20 Million in the video gambling machines currently operating in Tinley Park.

A similar proposal was defeated in Will County a few years when residents attended hearings and spoke out.

Take ACTION:  Please call the Mayor and Village Trustees and ask them to reject the proposal for Gas-N-Wash to become a truck stop at (708) 444-5000.  You can also email Mayor Jocob Vandenberg at jvandenberg@tinleypark.org and David Niemeyer, the Village Manager, at dniemeyer@tinleypark.org.

More ACTION: 

1.) Attend the public hearing on July 17 at 6:30 p.m. at 16250 South Oak Park Avenue, Tinley Park Illinois 60477

2.) Please share this information with your church and ask members to call and attend the hearing.

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Due to a U.S. Supreme Court decision, the odds have improved for legal sports betting to come to Illinois. Proponents are promising lots of tax revenue from bets on baseball, basketball, football, and other sports. The trouble is that all that money won’t fix the lives of individuals and families destroyed through gambling. It’s a good bet that sports betting will be bad for Illinois.

So far, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms has fought off a bill before the New York State Assembly that would allow casinos to loan money to customers to gamble away when they have exhausted their funds. The bill would also allow casinos to cash customer checks – but only if the money will be spent gambling.

Les Bernal of Stop Predatory Gambling says he’s familiar with the practice.

“This is literally the prime example of how much of our system is rigged against everyday people,” Bernal tells OneNewsNow. “And it’s absolutely an outrageous practice endorsed by state governments – not just in New York, but really in many states across the country.”

It’s essentially a matter of extracting wealth from people for the benefit of wealthy casino owners, he says, also arguing that the objective of legislators considering the proposals isn’t to improve the lives of its residents.

“The legislators that promote and endorse casinos are working for these very powerful gambling interests against the common good,” he further says. “And it can cross all parties. These legislators come from both parties who are pushing this. It is a symbol of how some of these guys are really working against the best interests of the people.”

Bernal’s experience tells him that people can make a difference by opposing it, being engaged, and working against the transfer of wealth from people to the casino corporate elite.

This article was originally posted at OneNewsNow.com

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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One of the Illinois General Assembly’s top budget minds is offering some common sense ideas on how the state can return to fiscal sanity and once again become a go-to state for business.

IFI is partnering with pro-life advocates to put up pro-life billboards throughout the Chicago metro area with the simple and bold statement “Abortion Takes Human Life,“ but we need your financial partnership to make this a success.  Can you help with a tax-deductible donation to this campaign?

How did they vote?

Yesterday, the Illinois Senate put two amendments on SB 7 – a massive gambling bill – and then ignored protocol by calling the bill for a vote without a committee hearing.  This proposal authorizes casinos in Chicago, Rockford, Danville, Lake County, south suburbs of Chicago, Williamson County and 4 casinos at racetracks.  It is important to note that this legislation would legalize a city-owned casino for Chicago with a perpetual license that cannot be revoked or suspended. No other city in the United States owns a casino.

The amendment that passed yesterday:

Includes slots and video gambling machines at the Chicago Airports.

Reduces live horse racing.

Removes money going to County Fairs and Universities for equine research.

Allows racetracks to keep their tax credit for 5 more years after electronic gambling begins.

Adds progressive slot machine jackpots for casinos AND video gambling with No cap.

Increases number of gambling positions from 1,200 to 2,000 at casinos.

Gives tax breaks for 5 years for current casinos for construction of at least $15 million.

Expands video gambling – DOUBLES amount per bet,  increases jackpots from $500 to $1,199, with no limit on cash awards for progressive jackpots.

SB 7 passed with 31 Yes votes and 26 No votes.  Click HERE to see how your state senator voted, or look at the chart below.  The sponsors of this legislation include: State Senators Terry Link (D-Gurnee), Dave Syverson (R-Rockford), Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and Donne Trotter (D-Chicago).

Twelve bills are linked together in the “grand bargain.”   SB 7 will not take effect UNLESS all 12 bills pass–Senate Bills 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 16.  To date, Illinois Senators have passed Senate bills 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Take ACTION: Click HERE to send an email or a fax to your state senator and state representative today to ask them to stop exploiting the citizens of Illinois through gambling expansion.  The state is already saturated with gambling and it has proven to be an unstable (and immoral) source of revenue.  Ask them to oppose the passage of SB 7.

Click HERE to learn more about ILCAAAP.

TAKE ACTION: Contact your state senator and urge them to oppose any expansion of gambling. SB 7, one of the 13 bills, is a huge expansion of gambling which includes: an increase in electronic gambling at various locations; a perpetual casino license for Chicago with 4,000 positions (over 3 times larger than current casinos); 5 additional land-based casinos with 1,600 positions; plus it expands the number of gambling positions at existing casinos from 1,200 to 1,600.

Tell your state senator that gambling is an unstable source of revenue that won’t and can’t solve the State’s fiscal problems, but more importantly, it’s hurting many families because of its addictive nature.

The Illinois State Senate Gaming Committee recently heard testimony on SB 7, the massive gambling expansion bill.  Thank you to those who signed witness slips.  There were 35 opponents and 4 proponents.

There were many questions from members of the committee asking sponsor Illinois Sen. Terry Link (D-Gurnee) to make changes to the bill.  The Senate moved SB 7 to third reading so it can be called for a vote at anytime now.

Illinois Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) filed Senate Amendment 2 to SB 7 to include slot machines at Chicago airports for passengers who at least 21 years of age and members of a private club.

The General Assembly adjourned and won’t be back in session again until Feb. 7th for the Illinois Senate and Feb. 8th for the Illinois House.  Illinois Senate minority leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) told state senators not to be swayed by their constituents if they are against passing the “grand bargain” budget bills.  Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) told state senators to be prepared to vote on the bills when they come back in February.

Take ACTION:  Click HERE to send a message to our Illinois state lawmakers about this massive expansion proposal.  Gambling is an unstable source of revenue.  SB 7 will lead to more addiction, financial ruin, broken families, increased costs for the state, and will not solve the budget problem.

Please share this alert with your faith community and ask them to CALL and PRAY.

Talking points to oppose SB 7

• SB 7 is a massive expansion of gambling that doubles the amount of casinos in Illinois – City of Chicago, Rockford, Danville, Lake County, south suburbs of Chicago, Williamson County, and 4 casinos at racetracks.  “More casinos will not mean substantially more tax revenue.”  (Forbes, 11/20/2015)

• SB 7 legalizes a city-owned casino for Chicago with a perpetual license that cannot be revoked or suspended.  No other city in the United States owns a casino.

•  SB 7 lowers the tax rate on casino gambling.  Currently casinos pay a graduated tax of 15 to 50 percent on Adjusted Gross Receipts.  SB 7 lowers the tax to 10% and has separate categories for electronic gambling devices (EGD) and table games.  Table games are taxed a maximum of 16% for adjusted gross receipts in excess of $70 million, and EGDs have a maximum of 50% in excess of $800 million.  NOTE:  Only Rivers Casino would qualify for the maximum tax on table games, and no casinos meets the maximum tax rate for slot machines.

• SB 7 rushes the approval process.  The Illinois Gaming Board shall issue the 6 casino gambling licenses within 12 months after the date the license application is submitted. The Board shall determine within 120 days after receiving an application whether to grant an electronic gaming license to a racetrack.  With the massive expansion and increased responsibilities and duties of the Gaming Board, this is irresponsible.  The public expects strict regulation and enforcement of gambling laws. Organized crime is a possibility if the process is rushed.  NOTE:  Rivers Casino was fined $1.65 million in 2016 for hiring United Services Co. for security and cleaning work at the casino.  United is run by Richard Simon, who has admitted business and personal ties to reputed mob figures.

• Gambling interests overestimate the amount of revenue generated.  When the Video Gambling Act was passed in 2009, the estimate of State revenue was $288 – $534 Million per year.  In  2016-4 years after the gambling machines were operational-the State received $277 million from 24,841 machines. Revenue projected in SB 7 could be much lower than expected, especially in communities with video gambling.

• Independent studies have found that 35 – 50 percent of the casino gambling revenues come from problem and pathological gamblers, according to “Why Casinos Matter“.  Doubling the number of casinos and increasing the number of gambling positions will make gambling even more accessible and lead to an increase in problem and pathological gambling.  There are currently 12,383 people on the self-exclusion list at Illinois casinos.  With a cost of $13,067 per pathological gambler per year, the cost to the State is over $161.8 million per year.

• Broken families, financial ruin, and crime will increase with the expansion of casino gambling.  The costs to the state are at least $3 for every $1 of revenue for regulation, criminal justice, and social costs.  These costs are not even considered when projecting the revenue for the State.

For more information about gambling or other addictive problems, please visit Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems.

Contact Your State Senator to Oppose SB 7.

Democratic Senate President John Cullerton and Minority Leader Christine Radogno negotiated an ambitious plan to end the budget impasse.  Promising to act on a package by month’s end, they introduced 13 measures that included sweeteners that are not budget-related for both sides.

One of the bills is SB 7, the massive gambling expansion bill. All 13 bills must pass for this “grand bargain” to become law.  The Illinois Senate will only be in Springfield three days this month – Jan. 24-26. Read more

Knowing the taxpayers won’t like it, Illinois Sen. Radogno’s advice to Republican State Senators:

“I cautioned my caucus you might want to turn off your phone because you’re going to get inundated from people who don’t like pieces of it.”  Read more

SB 7, the massive gambling expansion bill, has been assigned to a new Gaming Committee.  No members have been added at this time. We will alert you when a hearing date is posted.

SB 7 will double the amount of casinos in Illinois plus:

An increase in electronic gambling at various locations

Perpetual casino license for Chicago–4,000 positions (over 3 times larger than current casinos)

5 additional Land-based casinos with 1,600 positions

Expands number of gambling positions at existing casinos from 1,200 to 1,600.  Competitive bidding of unused positions–casinos can have up to 2,000 positions.

Nationwide, revenue at casinos has declined.  Illinois is saturated with gambling – Lottery, 25,000 video gambling machines, 10 casinos, Internet wagering on horse racing and the Lottery, 21 Off-Track Betting parlors, 4 racetracks, charitable gambling, raffles and Poker Runs.

Take ACTION: CLICK HERE to send an email to your state senator asking them to oppose SB 7.

Gambling is an unstable source of revenue
that has not and cannot solve the State’s fiscal problems.