Gambling With the Lives of Children
By Larry King
Inquirer Staff Writer
They prepared for more traffic, extra crime, and gambling addiction.
But officials in Bucks County say that while planning for the 2006 opening of Parx Casino in Bensalem, they never anticipated this.
"One thing that we never expected was for people to leave their kids inside their cars while they went inside to gamble," said Fred Harran, Bensalem's public safety director.
Yet police say that has happened seven times since mid-June outside the sprawling Parx complex, on Street Road. The latest report came Thursday, just hours after state lawmakers announced plans for a bill that would make it a felony to leave children younger than 13 unattended in a vehicle. "Of all the problems we thought about that were going to happen, this is one thing that was probably inconceivable," State Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R., Bucks) said at a noon news conference Thursday in Bensalem.
Added State Sen. Robert M. Tomlinson (R., Bucks): "We were all shocked when we first heard of these incidents."
They shouldn't have been, some experts and gambling critics say.
"They didn't do their research," said Janette Fennell, founder and president of KidsAndCars.org, a national nonprofit child-safety organization. "There is plenty out there about the fact that kids are left alone in cars at casinos."
"It's amazing to me that legislators are surprised at this stuff," said Paul Boni, a Philadelphia lawyer who has represented anti-casino groups. "You are looking smack into the face of the addiction.
"They are surprised because they haven't thought about it and haven't looked into the issue."
During the 10 years ending in 2003, KidsAndCars.org collected accounts of more than 30 cases of parents' leaving children in locked cars outside casinos.
That was shown to be a lowball count when the Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal studied Indiana Gaming Commission records to reveal 37 incidents in which 72 children were left unattended at casinos in that state in 1999 and 2000.
News stories contain dozens of accounts of gamblers across the nation who left children in vehicles.
A few cases have proved fatal.
In 1997, a 10-day-old girl died in a car while her mother gambled for hours in a South Carolina casino.
The next year, a 3-year-old Louisiana boy died in hot van while his nanny played video poker for five hours.
In 2004, a 9-month-old Florida girl died in her car seat outside a track where her father was betting on horses.
Still, it appears that there is no mechanism for accurately tracking the problem. Fennell said she had approached several casinos in other states for statistical information and had been rebuffed each time.
Doug Harbach, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, said the board, by law, had no control over what took place outside a casino. He said he knew of no children left in cars at the state's other eight casinos.
Another board spokesman, Richard McGarvey, said he did not know whether casinos were required to report such incidents to the board.
The sheer number of reports from Parx, and the mounting publicity, prompted the board to question Parx officials Aug. 19 about how the casino is addressing the problem. In July, Parx generated $36.7 million in slots revenue, up 19 percent from July 2009 and the highest amount among the state's casinos.
Thomas Bonner, Parx vice president and general counsel, said last week that the casino planned to have 31 parking-lot surveillance cameras in place by midmonth - about double what it has had for its 7,000-space lot.
Security patrols are being increased during the casino's busiest times: Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons, Bonner said.
Customers are being asked to report any children seen in the parking lot, and warning signs have been posted at the casino, he said.
Six of the seven cases at Parx have been reported by customers, police said.
Some have suggested that security officials check any vehicles entering the lot for children inside.
"I'd be lying if I said that wasn't possible," Bonner said Thursday. But he said it would be difficult because Parx had five entrances and because the casino shared parking space with the Parx Racing horse track. Unlike the casino, the track allows children inside.
Bensalem officials said the township had hired 21 new police officers since Parx opened, but declined to say how many help patrol the Parx site.
Tomlinson and DiGirolamo said their legislation would enable judges to impose a sentence of up to seven years in prison. But they said it could also give a judge more options - such as a longer period of probation - to monitor and restrict problem gamblers.
"This is serious," Tomlinson said. "We don't expect this to happen again."
Don't hold your breath, lawyer Boni advised, for gambling addicts seldom consider the consequences.
"When you want to go out to a movie and you can't get a sitter to watch your kids, you go some other time," he said. "When you are an addicted gambler, you can't not go to the casino. So you find a way."
Showing posts with label pets and addiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pets and addiction. Show all posts
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Pennsylvani: Kids left in cars sparks action
Kids left in cars sparks action
Lawmakers hope to prevent parents from leaving children in car outside casinos.
Some state legislators are hoping that the threat of an additional two years in prison and having a felony on their record will be enough to deter people from leaving children unattended in a vehicle.
Sen. Tommy Tomlinson and Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, both Republicans representing portions of Bucks County, announced their intent to introduce mirroring bills in their respective chambers in the near future. The announcement came in Bensalem, home to the Parx Casino, which falls in both men’s districts.
It’s been at that establishment that police have arrested seven people for leaving children in vehicles while they went in to gamble. Just hours after the announcement, the seventh person, a grandfather, was charged with leaving a 12-year-old in the vehicle while he went inside to gamble.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, between June 15 and Aug. 25, six parents left a combined 12 children and a puppy unattended in cars in Parx’s parking lots. The children ranged from 15 months to 15 years old, and were left unsupervised from a half-hour to six hours.
That type of incident, though rampant at Parx, is not exclusive to that casino.
On Jan. 24, Plains Township police charged Floyd H. Robinson Jr., 43, and Michelle L. Shulskie, 38, of Larksville, with child endangerment for allegedly leaving a 13-year-old boy and 22-month-old boy alone in a vehicle while the couple were in the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs casino. Police found the toddler and the 13-year-old in a vehicle with its doors locked, engine running and the heat on at about 12:15 a.m. while responding to a 911 hang up call, according to charges filed. The cases are still pending.
And at The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, according to a story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, one incident has occurred.
Wendy Wilson, a spokeswoman for Mount Airy Casino Resort near Mount Pocono, said no such incidents have occurred there and the casino fully supports increased penalties for such crimes. She said security at Mount Airy is vigilant and monitors vehicles in parking lots closely.
“The public needs to understand that there are serious safety risks to children who are left in unattended vehicles,” Tomlinson said. “This bill will send a message that irresponsible behavior will not be tolerated and that offenders will face strong penalties.”
Steve Dahle, vice president for marketing at Mohegan Sun, said “even though casinos are what brought this to the forefront, it happens at a lot of businesses. But we are glad it’s being brought to the forefront and support (the proposal).”
While the incidents at casinos have been the spur for the legislation, the bill would target incidents in any parking lot or street in the state.
The proposed bills in the Senate and House would make it a third-degree felony to leave a child under age 13 in a motor vehicle without adult supervision. A third degree felony can result in a prison term of 3 � to 7 years and a fine of up to $15,000. Under current law, leaving a child unattended is a misdemeanor of the first degree, which means up to five years in jail.
“It is unconscionable to me that parents will intentionally leave their children alone in their cars in parking lots at a local casino,” said DiGirolamo. “While we cannot legislate proper parenting, we can put tough laws on the books to provide serious punishments for those who are willing to put their children in harm’s way.”
Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, said she will not cosponsor the measure but is glad more attention is being paid to the problem. She said she has concerns about putting additional strains on the state’s ballooning prison population. A decision on whether she would vote for the bill or not will depend on the language of the final version, her spokeswoman Jennifer Wilson said.
“These are the types of unfortunate situations that arise when the impulse to gamble overrides common sense. As more forms of gambling are made more easily accessible, we can expect that the problems will become more extensive,” Baker said. “I agree that we need to increase the sanctions for what seems to be criminal irresponsibility. At the same time, Pennsylvania is considering steps for alleviating a costly problem with prison overcrowding, so longer jail terms may not be the best remedy.”
Fran Cleaver, who serves as Tomlinson’s office counsel, said “placing someone in jail is not the optimal target of this (bill).” She said that by making the crime a felony, it accomplishes two key things. It would give courts additional time to monitor parents on parole and it also makes people think twice because in many workplaces, you can’t have a felony on your record.
Cleaver said the target date for introduction of the Senate bill is Sept. 14.
Lawmakers hope to prevent parents from leaving children in car outside casinos.
Some state legislators are hoping that the threat of an additional two years in prison and having a felony on their record will be enough to deter people from leaving children unattended in a vehicle.
Sen. Tommy Tomlinson and Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, both Republicans representing portions of Bucks County, announced their intent to introduce mirroring bills in their respective chambers in the near future. The announcement came in Bensalem, home to the Parx Casino, which falls in both men’s districts.
It’s been at that establishment that police have arrested seven people for leaving children in vehicles while they went in to gamble. Just hours after the announcement, the seventh person, a grandfather, was charged with leaving a 12-year-old in the vehicle while he went inside to gamble.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, between June 15 and Aug. 25, six parents left a combined 12 children and a puppy unattended in cars in Parx’s parking lots. The children ranged from 15 months to 15 years old, and were left unsupervised from a half-hour to six hours.
That type of incident, though rampant at Parx, is not exclusive to that casino.
On Jan. 24, Plains Township police charged Floyd H. Robinson Jr., 43, and Michelle L. Shulskie, 38, of Larksville, with child endangerment for allegedly leaving a 13-year-old boy and 22-month-old boy alone in a vehicle while the couple were in the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs casino. Police found the toddler and the 13-year-old in a vehicle with its doors locked, engine running and the heat on at about 12:15 a.m. while responding to a 911 hang up call, according to charges filed. The cases are still pending.
And at The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, according to a story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, one incident has occurred.
Wendy Wilson, a spokeswoman for Mount Airy Casino Resort near Mount Pocono, said no such incidents have occurred there and the casino fully supports increased penalties for such crimes. She said security at Mount Airy is vigilant and monitors vehicles in parking lots closely.
“The public needs to understand that there are serious safety risks to children who are left in unattended vehicles,” Tomlinson said. “This bill will send a message that irresponsible behavior will not be tolerated and that offenders will face strong penalties.”
Steve Dahle, vice president for marketing at Mohegan Sun, said “even though casinos are what brought this to the forefront, it happens at a lot of businesses. But we are glad it’s being brought to the forefront and support (the proposal).”
While the incidents at casinos have been the spur for the legislation, the bill would target incidents in any parking lot or street in the state.
The proposed bills in the Senate and House would make it a third-degree felony to leave a child under age 13 in a motor vehicle without adult supervision. A third degree felony can result in a prison term of 3 � to 7 years and a fine of up to $15,000. Under current law, leaving a child unattended is a misdemeanor of the first degree, which means up to five years in jail.
“It is unconscionable to me that parents will intentionally leave their children alone in their cars in parking lots at a local casino,” said DiGirolamo. “While we cannot legislate proper parenting, we can put tough laws on the books to provide serious punishments for those who are willing to put their children in harm’s way.”
Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, said she will not cosponsor the measure but is glad more attention is being paid to the problem. She said she has concerns about putting additional strains on the state’s ballooning prison population. A decision on whether she would vote for the bill or not will depend on the language of the final version, her spokeswoman Jennifer Wilson said.
“These are the types of unfortunate situations that arise when the impulse to gamble overrides common sense. As more forms of gambling are made more easily accessible, we can expect that the problems will become more extensive,” Baker said. “I agree that we need to increase the sanctions for what seems to be criminal irresponsibility. At the same time, Pennsylvania is considering steps for alleviating a costly problem with prison overcrowding, so longer jail terms may not be the best remedy.”
Fran Cleaver, who serves as Tomlinson’s office counsel, said “placing someone in jail is not the optimal target of this (bill).” She said that by making the crime a felony, it accomplishes two key things. It would give courts additional time to monitor parents on parole and it also makes people think twice because in many workplaces, you can’t have a felony on your record.
Cleaver said the target date for introduction of the Senate bill is Sept. 14.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Ameristar Casino: 27 animals found in hot car
The article below highlights one of the many problems created by Slot Parlors by whatever elegant appearance - Gambling Addiction that causes patrons to abandon their children and pets in unsafe conditions.
It also debunks the oft-repeated myth about "Destination Resort Casinos" attracting a 'different demographic' when a homeless patrons seeks her fortune at the slot machines.
It also debunks the oft-repeated myth about "Destination Resort Casinos" attracting a 'different demographic' when a homeless patrons seeks her fortune at the slot machines.
27 animals found in hot car in St. Charles, Mo.
ST. CHARLES, Mo. Twenty-five cats and two dogs are expected to recover after being rescued from a hot car parked outside a casino while their owner was inside gambling.
STLtoday.com, the website for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, reported Monday that the owner has relinquished the animals to the city of St. Charles.
It happened Sunday, when temperatures in St. Charles were in the 90s with high humidity. Someone called 911 after seeing the animals inside a Chevrolet Lumina in the parking garage at the Ameristar Casino.
Police say the animals had no water but some food scattered on the car's floor. The windows were cracked open.
Authorities believe the woman had arrived about 25 minutes earlier. She told police she is homeless and living in the car.
Ameristar Casinos in Kansas City and Suburban St. Louis Now Operating With No Loss Limit or Player Identification Card Requirement
LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwire - November 7, 2008) - In compliance with an order issued earlier today by the Missouri Gaming Commission, guests at Ameristar Casino Hotel Spa in St. Charles and Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City may now buy in for more than $500 at any time and are no longer required to obtain player identification cards before entering the casino floor.
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