Newsletter April 8, 2008
For more information contact Bruce Barron at nodicepa@aol.com or 412-835-0614
It’s nice to win sometimes
The newspaper in Bay City, Michigan ran an extensive feature on the impacts of gambling addiction. See http://blog.mlive.com/bctimes/2008/03/standish_gaming_operation_prov.html.
The big slots news last month was that the gorillas lost twice. Specifically, legislators in both Massachusetts and Kentucky stiffed their governors’ casino proposals. In Massachusetts, the proposal lost 108-46 in the House, thanks in large part to energetic opposition by the House Speaker. In Kentucky, the proposal never came up for a vote.
On the Massachusetts result, see
On the Kentucky result (with comments on Massachusetts also) see http://www.kypost.com/content/news/commonwealth/story.aspx?content_id=fc0abe87-7ecf-42f5-bf74-25d7efcb6348
Tinkering with bad law
Two of our more honorable state legislators, Sen. Jeff Piccola and Rep. Doug Reichley, are leading an effort to amend Pennsylvania’s slots law. The fact that the winner of the Poconos slots license has now been charged with perjury related to testimony on behalf of his license application is fueling their efforts. For more detail on the proposed amendments, listed as House Bill 2410 and Senate Bill 1331, see http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08092/869482-336.stm.
I believe the Piccola-Reichley proposals are worthy of support, particularly the amendment that would move gambling enforcement from the Gaming Control Board to the attorney general’s office. You may wish to contact your legislators in support of this legislation. However, while these measures might clean up a small part of the ugliness of government’s partnership with the casino industry, none of them are likely to address the harm caused by gambling addiction. Thus we should also urge legislators to take this opportunity to revisit other unfortunate aspects of Pennsylvania’s slots law. For example, Bill Kearney’s idea of requiring casinos to send monthly activity statements to gamblers has been introduced in both chambers of the General Assembly, by Rep. Paul Clymer and Sen. Rob Wonderling. Many other steps, such as requiring presentation of ID at the casino entrance, limiting the number of hours per day when the casino can stay open, and capping the amount a gambler can lose in a day, could also help. Perhaps, as the negative impacts of gambling become more and more obvious, we can persuade legislators to consider these amendments too.
Local plans
I hope that we can hold a media conference to kick off our “Winners Avoid Casinos” campaign around May 1. We would welcome your suggestions of people who might be willing to participate in this media event. Civic leaders and people who have personally experienced the negative impacts of legalized gambling would be especially appreciated. Suggestions are always welcome.
News reports
In Philadelphia, the city is still making life difficult for the two casino licensees, despite a state Supreme Court ruling that City Council must stop delaying its zoning approvals. Mayor Nutter says he has no intention to spend city money on extra police costs around the casinos, estimated at $14 million a year once the casinos open. See http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/17320289.html.
A compulsive gambler attempted to kill himself at Philadelphia Park Casino. See http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-04052008-1514431.html.
In Woodstock, Illinois (near Chicago), a lawyer admitted to swindling $135,000 from his clients to feed a gambling addiction. See http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2008/03/24/news/local/doc47e7e81c3d35f976077617.txt.