National Day of Action Against Predatory Gambling: Action against casinos in Massachusetts this weekend

This weekend thousands of citizens across the U.S. and Australia are participating in the first National Day of Action Against Predatory Gambling

Over 130 different actions in more than 25 states are planned. New Mexico citizens already made statewide headlines with their action. 

In Massachusetts, our action is simple but powerful. We enter a local casino, sit down at a slot machine, put in our money and then we begin Freedom Playing. Freedom Playing means you play the machine any way you want except you don’t press the Play button. While we Freedom Play, some of us talk with a friend, some read a book and some even knit. 
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We will be using our freedom to play these machines in such a way that: 1) spotlights how predatory gambling contributes to rising unfairness and inequality in our communities and state; 2) sends a message to the 2/3 of citizens who never use predatory gambling that they end up paying higher taxes for less services because of this dishonest policy; and 3) amplifies the voices of the citizens in or near communities targeted by casinos who continue to fight for a future better than the one predatory gambling offers us.

Once we are done Freedom Playing, we will hit the cash out button on the machine and receive a paper voucher that we will present to the Cashier’s Window to receive our money.

Where To Meet: Freedom Players will meet at Trinity Episcopal Church, 47 East Street, Wrentham, MA on Sunday, Sept. 27th at 3:30pm sharp. Please see the church’s website for directions. www.trinitywrentham.org   The event will be finished by 6pm 

All Freedom Players Need to Bring the Following:
1)    A $5.00 bill or larger 
2)    Bring a Valid Photo I.D. (All participants need to be 21 years old or older to enter the casino.)
3)    Something to do while “Freedom Playing” (i.e. a book, knitting, etc.)
4)    Please bring at least one other person with you, a family member, friend or co-worker.

To RSVP or for questions, contact mail@stoppredatorygambling.org or call the MA office (978) 683-4339. You can sign up online at this link.  Please post this link on Facebook to get the word out to your social media networks. 

We're asking for 100% participation from you and everyone who wants a future better than the one predatory gambling offers us.This is the first time that thousands of citizens across the US and the world have all acted together to confront the unjust and dishonest policy of predatory gambling.

Do your part. If you can't commit the time, then please participate by making a tax-deductible gift of $25 or more to support this effort.

Thanks.

Best,

Les

____________

Les Bernal

National Director, Stop Predatory Gambling

End government-sponsored gambling because it is dishonest, financially damaging to citizens and contributes to rising unfairness and inequality in our country.

Become a member of Stop Predatory Gambling today.

Quick Links    An American Declaration on Government and Gambling    Online Store    SPG in the Media    Take Action    A Failed Government Policy    Lies vs. Facts    Background Reading    Share Your Story    Donate To The Mission

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Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation ι 100 Maryland Avenue NE, Room 310 ι Washington, D.C. 20002 ι (202) 567-6996
©2013 Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation. All rights reserved. 
 

National Day of Action Against Predatory Gambling on the weekend of 9/26-9/27

We're now 12 days away from the first National Day of Action Against Predatory Gambling on the weekend of 9/26-9/27.

More than 100 actions are happening across America and Australia that weekend. In Massachusetts, many citizens are coming together to be "Freedom Players." 

In North Carolina, they are holding an outdoor vigil in front of a public building to remember all of the people who have been victims of predatory gambling. In Texas, they are smashing a slot machine at the state capitol in Austin. In Illinois, they are doing a Freedom Players action in the Chicago suburbs. In Alabama, churches are holding a series of prayer vigils across the state. These are just a few of the many different actions that citizens are taking.

We are calling for 100% participation from you and everyone who wants a future better than the one predatory gambling offers us.This is the first time that thousands of citizens across the US and the world have all acted together to confront the unjust and dishonest policy of predatory gambling.

Do your part. Please commit two hours on the weekend of 9/26-9/27 to participate locally in some way. If you can't commit the time, then please participate by making a gift of $25 or more tax-deductible to support our work locally.

You can sign up online at this link, and then share the link with your email and social media networks. Or, you can contact our National Victims Advocate Melynda Litchfield, who is helping to coordinate the Day of Action at melynda@stoppredatorygambling.org or myself atles@stoppredatorygambling.org.

Here is a sample media advisory that you can send out to state and local media in advance of your action.

Also, here is a brief, effective guide that we put together with the Alabama group about how to organize a prayer vigil in your place of worship that weekend.

If you want to stop the policy of predatory gambling in your region, then you personally need to act. Don't think it will happen without your sacrifice because it won't. To phase it out in your community, you need to stop it in your state. To stop it in your state, you need to stop it nationally.

DO SOMETHING on the weekend of 9/26-9/27. If you want to find me, I'll be Freedom Playing.

Best,

Les

____________

Les Bernal

National Director, Stop Predatory Gambling

End government-sponsored gambling because it is dishonest, financially damaging to citizens and contributes to rising unfairness and inequality in our country.

Become a member of Stop Predatory Gambling today.

Quick Links    An American Declaration on Government and Gambling    Online Store    SPG in the Media    Take Action    A Failed Government Policy    Lies vs. Facts    Background Reading    Share Your Story    Donate To The Mission

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Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation ι 100 Maryland Avenue NE, Room 310 ι Washington, D.C. 20002 ι (202) 567-6996

Freedom Players

The Freedom Players play their own way at a Lynden Washington casino - and make a statement about the exploitative nature of slot machines.