Gambling casinos are protected from cruel reform bills by a gallant senator

Gambling casinos are protected from cruel reform bills by a gallant senator
July 21, 2012

Imagine the hardships that would ensue if compulsive gamblers were suddenly told, in graphic detail on monthly statements, how much money they were losing in a casino. Even worse, think of the problems it could cause if their spouses found out.

Hey, it is none of your business if your husband or your wife is dropping all the mortgage and grocery money into clanging and sparkling machines, which are expertly rigged to lure and cheat suckers.

It also is none of the public's business if state-licensed casinos use registered lobbyists to butter up Pennsylvania's politicians in various ways, to persuade them to give the gambling industry everything it wants at the expense of everybody else.

Evil legislative proposals to impose such hardships violate the right of casino owners to enjoy a fabulous return on the multimillion-dollar investments they have made in the form of so-called "political campaign contributions" to select politicians.

Alas, such legislation has been proposed in Harrisburg for years, mainly by Pennsylvania government's leading troublemaker, state Rep. Paul Clymer, R-Bucks.

In December, one of his bills, to make casinos divulge details of their contracts with lobbyists, was passed by the House 189-2. Another measure, of which Clymer is a co-sponsor, would require those nasty monthly statements. It passed unanimously.

Fortunately, one legislator is in a position to gallantly block these cruel assaults. That is Sen. Jane Earll, R-Erie, a longtime supporter of the gambling industry, and a beneficiary of its monetary generosity.

I'll get back to my conversation with her shortly, but first let us consider the nasty measures designed to put a crimp in the millions being raked in by our gambling industry people.

Clymer is the chief sponsor of House Bill 2005, which would require casinos to tell the truth, on their websites, about some of their schemes, such as what sort of contracts they have with registered lobbyists who influence state politicians.

He co-sponsored HB 2009, which is even worse. Among other atrocities, it would make casinos divulge monthly statements to customers who are given the "reward cards" that help casinos keep track of them. (The "reward" means that if you blow a few thousand, you get a free meal, etc.)

The statements would let individuals know how much money they lost and how much time they spent losing it. (Technically, the statements also would show winnings, but I'm not sure how often the average sucker would get to see that sort of entry.)

Monthly statements represent a frightening concept, and not just for casino operators. Do you want your wife or husband to be able to see such information when it arrives in the mail? Where would our right to privacy be then? Is nothing sacred? What's next? Internet porn?

HB 2005 and HB 2009 were passed by the House in December, by votes of 189-2 and 192-0, respectively. Since then, they have been stuck in the quagmire of the Senate's Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee, which is empowered to oversee gambling issues and is chaired by Earll.

To be honest, I had not paid very much attention to those two measures until another troublemaker, a pesky Philadelphia man, started bugging me this past week.

You may recall that Bill Kearney wrote an op-ed column published by The Morning Call in April of last year, supporting similar legislation, which has been introduced for years without going anywhere. "I am a former compulsive casino gambling degenerate," Kearney wrote, explaining his expertise. He said "our casinos are operating with no consumer protection," a point I also have made, even though my myriad problems do not include compulsive gambling.

Kearney kept pestering me about the way HB 2005 and HB 2009 have stalled in the Senate until I talked to Earll about that. I asked her if she will allow the bills to move out of her committee any time soon.

"Not likely," she replied. "There's one guy who's been advocating [for those measures] relentlessly."

Do you mean, I asked her, Mr. Kearney?

"Yeah," Earll said. "He's just relentless."

As for Clymer's lobbyist bill, she said the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board already has regulations that cover what that proposal would do, and the monthly statements are not needed. "There's no evidence that providing that information helps gambling addicts," she said.

As for her statement about the PGCB's lobbying contracts, I asked that agency this question: "When I spoke to Sen. Jane Earll, who chairs the committee where that bill [HB 2005] resides, she said such a provision is already in place under PGCB regulations. Is that correct?"

"There are no regulations of the PGCB which address this topic," replied Douglas Harbach, director of communications for the agency, although he said the agency does provide information on its contracts.

Anyway, quit worrying. Even if you are a compulsive gambler and you are suckered into losing the house — or your children are starving, or you are otherwise victimized by casinos under a system arranged by lobbyists — it's all right.

I am sure Sen. Earll will send you her own money to help you out.

paul.carpenter@mcall.com 610-820-6176

Paul Carpenter's commentary appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.


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