Churches Weigh-in On Casino Gambling Bill
Southwest News-Herald - City
By NADA SHAMAH

A hot topic that lawmakers in the state of Illinois have been arguing recently is whether to add to the number of casinos in the state.

The bill being discussed is one that asks for the addition of casinos in the city of Chicago, as well as Lake County, and placing gaming machines in both Midway and O’Hare airports.

The idea is to offset the huge debt that has hit the state over the past few years and to alleviate a deficit that is now in the billions.

Gov. Pat Quinn has been given a bill that he has called “top heavy” because, according to Quinn, it asks for too many casinos.

Quinn has said that the people of Illinois did not elect him to cater to the gamblers of the state but to arrive at meaningful solutions on major issues for all residents.

But what does having more casinos mean for the people of Illinois, and what problems would they bring for those in the religious sector?

Many religions regard gambling as a sin.

The Quran teaches to abstain on “games of chance” that will not benefit the gambler but bring more harm than good.

Although the Bible does not consider gambling a major sin, many leaders of faith say the idea of casinos will prove detrimental to the health and spirit of the people of the state.

Pastor Luis Ruiz of Rios de Agua Viva, 6132 S. Kedzie Ave., says that the idea of adding more casinos to the state will not alleviate the financial crisis.

He says that adding more casinos will increase addiction to gambling and harm the youth who see casinos as a fun-filled place to be.

“Gambling is addictive no matter how you dress it up,” said Ruiz. “In my opinion, more casinos will lead to a high rate of crime (and) prostitution, and misdemeanors will increase.

“People will turn to the wrong ways to help feed their addiction.”

Ruiz says that if elected officials can come up with all the money needed to open these casinos, they can come up with meaningful solutions to help save the state financially.

“The money they are spending should go towards forming a group that can analyze the financial situation and come up with programs that can benefit everyone,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz says that there needs to be more organizations that educate the people of the state.

He says that if people were taught to be financially responsible, there would not be a financial crisis.

“We need to take a deeper, more profound look at what the problem is,” he said.

He adds that the state of Illinois spends $25,000 to $30,000 a year on a prison inmate, but says if right and wrong was taught early, the number of people in prison would not be so high.
Ruiz says that the solution to every problem is bringing God back in everyone’s life and home.

Pastor Ricky Guyton, of Body of Christ Church, 5246 S. Western Ave., says that he is against the idea of adding more casinos to the state to help with the financial deficit.

Guyton says that the state’s original idea to use the Illinois Lottery to offset the cost of education did not necessarily work as planned, and educational institutions did not get all the funds that they had thought they would from the lottery.

“Gambling and casinos will ultimately harm those in our communities who suffer from addiction,” Guyton said. “There will be people out there who have an addiction and will use whatever funds they have saved towards gambling at the new casinos.”

He says that the casinos would negatively affect those who are low-income.

“It is ridiculous to think that casinos will be the solution to the financial crisis in the state,” he said.

Guyton says that everyone has a responsibility to budget their lifestyle and not spend more than they have.

He says lawmakers are no exception.

“I must budget in my household to see what to spend and when to spend,” he said. “Our elected officials must do the same.”

“God is the answer,” Ruiz said. “Everything else remains an artificial solution to the problem.”