May 29, 2007

Gambling Action Alert

This mega gambling expansion deal has been in the works for 15 years since promoters and politicians wanted a casino in Chicago. Millions of dollars of campaign contributions have been spent on politicians by gambling promoters to come to this place where they can force a massive expansion of gambling that is riding not on the wave of people voting or asking for more gambling, but on the millions of dollars of of campaign contributions that have gone into both parties.

If you didn't have enough money to pay for your health care or education for your children, would you gamble to pay for it? Why are Legislators and the Governor willing to "roll the dice" on such important public policy issues.

This massive gambling expansion bill legalizes wide open gambling in Illinois. Senate Bill 11 legalizes gambling in every home and every community. SB 11 is a huge expansion of gambling that will legalize Internet betting on horse racing and allow people to gamble at home. Gamblers could lose their house without ever leaving their home!

Letters to the Editor and calls are urgently needed before the May 31 deadline for adjournment. The Governor pledged not to expand gambling when he was first elected to office. During the recent election, the Governor said his position had not changed. The Governor needs to hear from you asking him to keep his promise not to expand gambling.

For Immediate Action

  1. Using the Talking Points below, write a Letter to the Editor or send a comment to your newspaper's Blog on the Internet.
  2. Contact the Governor by e-mail or phone (800-642-3112) and ask him to keep is promise not to expand gambling.
  3. Call your State Representative and Senator (217-782-2000) and tell them NO MORE GAMBLNG.

Talking Points

SB 11 allows gamblers to bet on older horse races (Instant Racing Machines), bet on the horses anywhere in the world through the Internet (Account Deposit Wagering), and gamble on Internet poker at Off-Track Betting Parlors, racetracks, and casinos. Internet poker is illegal in the United States. This "sweetheart deal" will provide windfall profits for racetrack owners and legalize wide-open, hard core gambling in every home and community.

SB 11 legalizes 4 additional casinos--and the 10th casino license has not been issued. So this bill could result in 14 casinos for Illinois.

SB 11 creates land-based casinos. A casino in Chicago could have 4,000 gambling positions, more than any casino in the state. Existing casinos would more than double the number of gambling positions from 1,200 to 3,500. SB 11 would legalize 24,000 gambling positions (currently there are 10,800 gambling positions at 9 casinos) at 14 casinos!

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