October 30, 2007
Dear Representative:
The most massive gambling expansion bill in the history of Illinois is being tied to a capital construction plan to fund roads, bridges, and schools in this overtime session as the only revenue source "on the table" because of the Governor's promise not to raise taxes. Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems would like to remind you that the Governor also promised not to expand gambling. Why is it acceptable to break his promise on gambling but keep his promise about taxes?
HB 2035 legalizes three additional casinos, including city-owned, land-based casinos in Chicago and almost tripling the number of gambling positions in Illinois. The Metro-Chicago area has a population base of over 7 million people. 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 (June, 1999). Studies have shown that gamblers will go to the nearest casino to gamble.
Since Representative Tom Cross and Speaker Mike Madigan have both said they do not gamble and do not go to casinos, we had hoped that they would propose a "solution" that did not include an expansion of gambling. However, it appears the House plan will include a Chicago-owned land based casino, an additional casino, slots at racetracks, and more gambling positions at existing casinos. What kind of leadership would bring a product with known problems and costs of Addiction, Bankruptcy, Crime, and Corruption to Chicago, racetracks communities, and other locations?
Over 88 percent of the revenue at Illinois casinos comes from slot machines (electronic gambling devices), with over 60 percent of that money gambled at machines for a quarter or less—penny slots, two penny, three penny, nickel, dime, quarter. Casinos are not making big money >from high rollers. These machines are behavior modification devices which are designed to give intermittent rewards and produce "near misses" from a random number generator to keep people playing longer and losing more money.
Additional casinos will not attract tourists or gamblers from Indiana; they will attract local people to gamble. Studies show that between three-eights to one half of casino revenue comes from problem and pathological gamblers. Gambling will not generate enough revenue to pay for all the promised road construction and member initiatives. Money to finance capital construction projects should not be based on gambling losses from the poor, the addicted, and the vulnerable.
Please work with legislative leaders to find a solution without expanding gambling.
Sincerely,
Anita R. Bedell
Executive Director