October 30, 2007

Alderman and Grassroots Activists Call on City Officials and Representatives to Oppose Gambling Expansion

The Senate passed a massive gambling expansion bill that is tied to a capital construction plan that more than doubles the amount of gambling in Illinois by legalizing a city-owned, land-based casino in Chicago two more casinos, 6,000 additional gambling positions at the existing casinos, and legalizing horse racing on the Internet through Account Deposit Wagering. The proposed House version includes a Chicago-owned casino with 4,000 positions, one more casino, 3,500 new gambling positions for existing casinos and 3,500 slots for racetracks.

"It's amazing to me," said Rev. Tom Grey, field director of the National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion, "that people who don't gamble want to make Illinois a gambling mecca. What kind of leadership is that to bring in a product that you don't do yourself that has known problems of addiction, bankruptcy, and crime?"

"Gambling has never 'fixed' any problems in our state", said Anita Bedell, Executive Director of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems. "Roads, bridges, and schools should not be funded by increased gambling losses of the elderly, the addicted, the poor, and the vulnerable."

While some local officials are focused solely on the projects that will be doled out to their city if their state Representative votes for gambling expansion, we hope they will step back, and learn about the impact and costs of more gambling.

"Gambling is not good government, not good economics, and not good social policy," said Rev. Bill Bryan, member of the Board and co-chair of the Legislative Committee of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems.

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