Casino gambling opponents have their say at Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield
06.26.2013 | SPRIGNFIELD -- Former Connecticut Congressman Bob Steele speaks at an anti-casino rally held at the Christ Church Cathedral. (Photo by Don Treeger / The Republican)
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on June 26, 2013
SPRINGFIELD — Western Massachusetts Episcopal Bishop Douglas Fisher said a casino in Springfield would be “bad news for the poor.”
“When the proponents tell you it will lead to economic revival, you can almost believe them,” he said.
He said that casinos “are not an economic engine, but a vacuum cleaner. ... Legalized casino gambling is a regressive tax on the poor,” he said, adding that the thought of a large amount of money is too tempting to people who have little.
State law allows up to three casinos in the state, with one slated for Western Massachusetts. Three developers are vying for the license, with one being MGM Resorts International, which is proposing a $800 million casino in the city's South End employing up to 3,000 people.
View full size06.26.2013 | SPRINGFIELD -- The crowd listens to speakers at an anti-casino rally held at the Christ Church Cathedral.The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts hosted a program Wednesday night for opponents of casino gambling at Christ Church Cathedral on Chestnut Street. About 300 people attended the event.
The main speakers for the event were former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger and Bob Steele, a former congressman from Connecticut and the author of “The Curse: Big Time Gambling’s Seduction of a Small New England Town.”
Steele said casinos are not necessarily a job creator. He said a casino in West Virginia replaced card dealers with electronic card dealers when it lost profits. In 1988 only two states had legalized casino gambling, and now 39 states have it, Steele said.
Because of competition from Rhode Island and Yonkers, N.Y., slot revenues are down 32 percent in Connecticut, Steele said. He said that there have been layoffs at both Connecticut casinos.
Springfield is not likely to be a destination casino, Steele said, but a convenience casino for local people.
Harshbarger said that opponents need to be sure to vote against the Springfield casino proposal on July 16. The project must be approved by the host community before being eligible to seek the state license to operate. “You live here. This is your community,” he said.
“We teach our children to work hard and play by the rules and you will be a success," Harshbarger said. “The solution to every economic problem is not a casino.”
“The owners of the casino will make profits, the state will make money and the losers will be the people,” he said. “If the casino sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
Harshbarger said the Springfield opponents of casino gambling need to join a statewide effort to change the law legalizing casino gambling.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” he said.
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/06/casino_gambling_opponents_have.html#incart_river_default
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