Submitted by: Ms. Denise Alberts
Mr. Mayor,
I attended the monthly Illinois Gaming Board meeting yesterday (8-25-09). The agenda was heavy with issues on the newly passed law about video gaming. There was nothing on the agenda about the Des Plaines casino license. However, I learned from one of the committee members there that Mr. Bloom (Midwest Gaming) DID get the required paperwork in to move forward with approving investors, prior to the meeting. I am assuming that this issue will be discussed at the meeting next month, after the Board has reviewed it.
Video gaming is definitely a hot topic. The meeting opened with commentary from Chairman Aaron Jaffe who seemed annoyed with the entire situation. He stated that the Board at no time was consulted with before the law passed, yet the Board is being required to regulate the video gaming throughout the state. It "creates a new brand and new industry of gaming." No funding was established for staffing or equipment under this new law.
They need to MONITOR all of the machines (!!!) and he stated that it would be difficult to regulate all of it. Licenses need to be given to the manufacturer of the machines, the distributors, the terminal leasing companies, technicians, and terminal handlers. They would monitor all machines through a statewide computer system yet to be developed. The computer system could NOT monitor the age of a player or if they are on the state's "exclusion" list.
Four of the five speakers who addressed the board during "Public Commentary" spoke AGAINST video gaming and for strict regulations (the fifth speaker spoke about something other than video gaming). One of the speakers was Commissioner Bridget Gainer (10th District Cook County Board of Commissioners) and another was Mr. John Pastuovic (Director of Media and Public Affairs - Chicago Crime Commission). Their statements were all very strong and full of information on how detrimental adding video gaming in bars/lounges/restaurants/truck stops would be to individual communities.
Mr. Pastuovic was especially strong in stating their their studies show a 1000% rise in crime when this type of gambling is added to a community, and that the long-term costs far outweigh the benefits.
One of the speakers asked how the machines would be monitored to ensure that highly intoxicated individuals in the bars would not be using the machines. Another stated that "video poker will be preying on those who cannot afford to spend the money." This "fund" that the state wants to establish will be fed with money primarily from Illinois citizens, not tourists or those from other states. So this would be taking money from the citizens for these machines?!
Below is an article from the Trib. The reporter is a "regular" at the meetings. This is a good summary of Jaffe's comments: Gambling regulators not ready for video poker
The PRU Crew thanks you for your report Ms. Alberts.
August 31, 2009
Guest Report
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9 comments:
All gambling tends to prey more on those who can't afford to play/lose. Video poker (like slot machines) just plays to the lower common denominator.
But ever since Illinois made its deal with the devil to permit gambling in order to help cover up for its wasteful spending, we've become addicted to the revenue stream.
Gambling: just another excuse for irresponsible government.
Thanks to Ms. Alberts for this report.
I agree with Hoover that gambling is for the lowest common denominator and its shameful the politicians are doing this to our communities in the name of money.
Hoover and Anon. 1:39-
What exactly are politicians "doing to" our community? Drinking destroys thousands of lives every year. So does smoking. And so does gambling, of course. But politicians don't make people do it.
Adults are free to choose their own road to Hell without a "mommy state" there to try to stop them. That's what freedom is all about. I'm sure all the self-professed libertarians in the crowd will agree.
That said, I am 100% against allowing video gambling in Park Ridge. If losers want to hang out in rathole bars drinking and playing video poker, they are welcome to do so in another municipality. We don't need that here.
AMEN!!
So it would seem you practice "territorial libertarianism".
Fr. McKenzie:
What makes video poker players "losers" any more so than the regular casino gamblers who play the slots, roulette, etc.?
If video poker machines were installed in any of our local restaurants (Jason's, Al Fresco, Hay Caramba, Uncle Dan's, etc.), would those places suddenly attract more "losers" than they currently do? Doubtful, Padre, so why are the high horse perspective?
You say you don't want a "mommy state," so why do you need the city to reject video poker here? Why shouldn't any restaurants who want to get to put in the machines and let the "adults" choose video poker as their "own road to Hell"?
I am not a big gambler - I have never even been to the "boats" in the area. But I do have to say it is ammusing how some people have this opinion about gambling (in this case poker machines) and yet seem to completely miss the lottery machines virtually everyplace one looks.
I would say that Hoover's comments certainly apply to the lottery as well..."tends to prey more on those who can't afford to play/lose".
I don't think video poker players are bigger losers than people who go to the casinos. Casino people are losers too. And for the record, I pretty much feel the same way about the lottery. For those of you who play and tell yourself it's for the 'children', it ain't. The lottery adds no money to the schools.
Sin is in!
Tax'em danno.............
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