Big event planned for June 16:  Sorry you haven’t heard from us in a while, but we have not been asleep.  We have been working with representatives of two North Side churches and several gambling counselors to agree on plans for a major educational event in advance of the anticipated opening of the Rivers Casino.

 

We have agreed to hold a public event at Calvary United Methodist Church (at Allegheny and Beech, just a few blocks from the casino site) on Tuesday, June 16, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.  Gambling counselor Lindsay Hargrove, an inspiring and effective speaker, has agreed to participate.  Norm B., the faithful leader of Gamblers Anonymous in the Pittsburgh area, and Bill Kearney from Philadelphia have been invited.

 

This is an excellent chance for us to explain the real impact of expanded gambling, as the timing should cause people who have not had gambling impact on their radar screen previously to take an interest.  Please hold the date and spread the word.  More information to come.

 

On the advocacy front:  Now that Governor Rendell is going to colleges and even high schools with the message that gambling is good for them, legislators need to hear from those of us who think video poker is the next bad idea.  The first state legislative hearing on the topic is coming up this week.  Say no to table games too (HB 2121) as one never knows when the casinos will try to spring that bill through the General Assembly.

 

Pushback in Philadelphia:  Sadly, it appears that Philadelphia civic leadership, including Mayor Nutter, is beginning to cave and become cooperative with efforts to speed the opening of the two biggest legal money-grabbers in that city’s history.  CasinoFree Philadelphia is planning a colorful, public response on June 6 and would love to have some participants from Pittsburgh.  See www.casinofreephila.com for details and let me know if you are interested in going.

 

Other news

 

John Kindt, the superb researcher from the University of Illinois, has once again taken the offensive in calling for governments to rescue the economy by curtailing or eliminating legal gambling.  The most recent academic work in which he has participated is unfortunately a little high-priced, but the articles describing it are great.  See http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=52894087 on the economic issues and http://7thspace.com/headlines/306887/gambling_threatens_national_security_new_book_warns.html on national security issues.

 

From Iowa, an excellent article on the real impact of legalized gambling:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090419/NEWS/904190344/-1/ENT05

 

From Wisconsin, a similar story, from a conference of recovering gamblers:

http://www.wiscnews.com/wde/news/445717

 

From New Zealand, an innovative way to try to restrain problem gamblers.  I don’t think it is the most effective approach, but just the fact that gambling machine owners in New Zealand must spend thousands of dollars to retrofit their equipment suggests that the backlash is growing:

http://www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz/index.asp?articleid=12779

 

Thanks for continuing to care about the sad impacts of America’s fastest-growing addiction even though most legislators seem not to care.

 

--Bruce Barron