By MATT HOPF
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
A group of Quincy clergy continue showing their opposition to expanding gambling in the city.
Members of the Christian Ministers Fellowship stood in City Hall Plaza on Thursday asking that
Quincy aldermen vote against a proposed ordinance allowing video gambling machines in the city.
Four members of the fellowship, made up of members of the clergy from more than 25 area churches, told the Quincy City Council to reject the ordinance.
Bruce Rice, executive director of WGCA-FM, said he expects others to also address the council on Monday, when the ordinance is up for adoption.
"If you have reasonable doubt that this is going to be good for the city, healthy for the city, then either vote no or postpone it until you have a real definitive answer," Rice said.
Fellowship members have cited studies that show gambling costs taxpayers $3 for every $1 of tax revenue a community receives from it.
Video gambling was first approved in 2009 by the Illinois General Assembly as a funding mechanism for the state's $31 billion capital spending plan. Rules for video gambling were approved by the Illinois Gaming Board in April, and machines could go into operation in the state as early as August.
Under the Video Gaming Act, up to five machines can be installed at a bar, fraternal association facility and veteran group post that have liquor licenses, and truck stop.
Businesses with machines would receive 35 percent of revenue generated from them after payouts, as would the owners of the machine. The state would receive 30 percent, and 5 percent would go to municipalities.
However, the ministers said the revenue is not worth the risk.
The Rev. Rod Bakker of Faith Presbyterian Church said the city feels the effects of gambling from the Mark Twain Casino in LaGrange, Mo. Bakker's church knows all to well about gambling addiction.
A former employee with the church pleaded guilty in 2005 to stealing $110,000, a crime attributed to a gambling addiction.
"It took us a year and a half to find out where the money was going," Bakker said. "It was never replaced. Part of it was covered by insurance. This person is ordered by the court to repay it, but she'll be paying for the rest of her life."
Because of the theft, Faith Presbyterian was unable to give money that was going to local charities and other missions of the church.
Bakker said it was devastating for everyone involved.
"We're talking about sacrificing the family farm, sometimes the family's future, sometimes the family to gambling," he said. "It's not worth taking this kind of gamble with the future of our community and the future of our families so a few people can have some fun."
The Rev. James Hailey of Bethel AME Church said residents stand to lose money to the machines.
"If the house never wins, the house goes out of business," Hailey said. "To think that the house, which is those who are involved in it, doesn't win, then they will shut down really quick."
Proponents of the machines say people in Quincy already have the option to gamble nearby.
Don Heck of Heck Gaming told the City Council this week that there has not been an increase of crime in LaGrange since the casino opened more than 10 years ago.
Heck said the state has a strict licensing system that took two years to develop and it includes criminal background checks for all employees of an establishment with the gambling machines.
He also said he has been contacted by dozens of local businesses who are interested in having machines in their establishments.
Heck Gaming has received a terminal operator license from the Illinois Gaming Board.
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