Rhode Island: A Gambling Arms Race

Dear Father McKenna:

I read your comments with interest and share in your frustration.

Casino gambling is immensely profitable and if you'll pardon me for saying so, Casino Investors have more money than God!

.

They will continue to argue against all logic or reason, use any rhetoric to achieve continued expansion, such as competition to achieve continued expansion and protect their profits. On the United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts web site, this Race to the Bottom has been called A Gambling Arms Race.

.

Legislators will behave like Bobble Heads, nodding agreement instead of making sound fiscal policy decisions, like raise taxes or institute sensible reforms.

.

To the Bobble Heads, exploitation of the gullible absolves them of responsibility and they behave like adolescents saying "Everyone else is doing it!."

.

Ohio defeated slot machines 4 times and the Gambling Vultures were not deterred. Instead, they invested $50 million and only narrowly passed the referendum on the 5th try. They simply don't give up!

.

In Maine, voters said "No!" but the Vultures returned.

.

The same may be said of New Hampshire and Massachusetts and others.

.

The Vultures wear you down, out shout you, outspend you with the best lobbyists and media consultants possible, employ whatever corrupt practice works, make promises, deny the crime and community degradation that accompanies slots and pretend Predatory Gambling is simply entertainment.

.

Keep the Faith, Father!

For Father Eugene McKenna, the fight against the expansion of casino gambling in Rhode Island is starting to seem like a never-ending battle.

“We believe that the people of Rhode Island have decided on several occasions against casino gambling,” said Father McKenna, President of Citizens Concerned About Casino Gambling minutes before the House Finance Committee heard a bill that would allow a referendum to make Twin River a full-blown casino.

“All of that effort and energy that was put forward to defeat the last referendum in 2006 is being ignored as if it never even happened.”


Read more: Cranston Herald - Effort to protect state gambling revenues brings casino issue up again