Illinois: No casino gambling on state fairgrounds

Letter: No casino gambling on state fairgrounds

Remember how politicians said the lottery would help education? Now, Springfield legislators want to put a casino at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and want you to believe it will help the fair break even. Don’t be fooled again!

With talk of a Springfield casino in 1994, 90 percent of Sangamon County voters approved a citizen referendum asking for a vote before gambling was expanded in the county. We need to speak out now while we still can. There is a big difference between betting on horse racing five days a year during the state fair and gambling on slot machines seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Slot machines account for 87 percent of the revenue at Illinois’ riverboat casinos. SB 744 also allows racetrack casinos to have slot machines that simulate table games, thus turning every slot machine into a virtual table game. SB 744 will transform the fairgrounds racetrack into a land-based casino.

The National Gambling Impact Study Commission found the presence of a gambling facility within 50 miles doubles the prevalence of problem and problem gambling. A casino in Springfield will increase crime, bankruptcy and addiction in surrounding communities, too.

If you do not want casino gambling at the state fairgrounds, call Sen. Larry Bomke (782-0228) and Rep. Raymond Poe (782-0897) and ask Gov. Pat Quinn (782-6830) to veto SB 744.

— Anita Bedell, executive director, Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems, Springfield