Press release from Casino-Free Philadelphia
by
Dan Hajdo | 01.11.2011
60 Minutes Interview Sparks Visit to SugarHouse Casino for Answers as Gov. Rendell Admits Casinos Profit Off Addicted Gamblers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2011
Contact: Dan Hajdo, dan@CasinoFreePhilly.org, 267-971-0937
When: Thursday, 13th at 5:30PM
Where: SugarHouse Casino, 1001 N. Delaware Ave.
60 Minutes Interview Sparks Visit to SugarHouse Casino for Answers
as Gov. Rendell Admits Casinos Profit Off Addicted Gamblers
PHILADELPHIA — A group of concerned citizens organized by Casino-Free Philadelphia will visit SugarHouse casino Thursday at 5:30 PM to ask Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board representatives and casino management to respond to issues raised by CBS’s “60 Minutes” episode on gambling that aired on Sunday, January 9.
Philadelphians will ask Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board representatives, (who have an office inside the casino), and casino management for information necessary to determine if sufficient precautions are in place to protect those addicted to gambling, and for information necessary for the state of Pennsylvania to determine the effects of casinos on its citizens’ mental health.
“The evidence that slot machines are addictive is clear,” said Lily Cavanagh, Organizing Director of Casino-Free Philadelphia. “What the interview showed us is that Gov. Rendell admits the state of Pennsylvania, through the casinos, is purposely going after the paychecks of addicted gamblers to raise revenue. That’s what he called one of ‘the upsides’ of gambling.”
In the “60 Minutes” interview, Gov. Rendell states that a “downside” to gambling is that “some people will lose their paycheck.” He then quickly states, however, that “these people would lose their paycheck anyway” in Atlantic City or elsewhere, and that it should be Pennsylvania that benefits from their loss.
“It makes it hard to believe that real protections for gambling addicts are in place,” Cavanagh said, “especially since neither the Gaming Control Board nor SugarHouse have published any specific plans for protecting gambling addicts.”
The “60 Minutes” episode that aired Sunday presented evidence that slot machines produce symptoms of physical withdrawal similar to that of drug addicts. Natasha Schull, a professor at MIT, detailed some of the reasons slot machines have higher addictive properties than other forms of gambling.
Twenty percent of gambling addicts attempt suicide.
“The governor callously wrote off people suffering from a serious mental illness, along with their families and friends, and this makes the cold, hard facts of casino gambling clear,” said Dan Hajdo, a Casino-Free Philadelphia board member. “Casinos profit off addiction, and the state is saying ‘where’s my cut.’ Government should be protecting the health of its citizens, not asking how to make money off the mentally ill.”
Casino-Free Philadelphia's mission is to stop casinos from coming to Philadelphia and close any that open. The social and economic costs of predatory gambling are plainly apparent from an industry reliant on addiction to survive. Visit us online at www.CasinoFreePhilly.org.
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Comentarios
SugarHouse is the worst of all possible worlds, (spots)
Submitted by RichardKanePA on Mar, 01/11/2011 - 3:32pmSugarHouse is worse than two casinos where the other would have conned more rich people and out of city dwellers.
It is an economic disaster, while the country and the west is also in for some hard times.
If someone usually honest, in hunger grabs something from a small store, they may be too embarrassed to shop there and instead go to the supermarket whose less employees more likely spend their money outside the city. People without any money in their pocket aren't in the supermarket, waking out after shopping for half an hour without buying anything. If they do they stand out.
Meanwhile robbers are eying the usually poor for hidden treasure, while they are doing this may note small change or a single bill conveniently left in sight, or a purse with maybe little in it left alone for a moment.
If we can't stop a casino maybe we can move it to the airport were it will con more outsiders and even those who are rich enough to avoid taxes when they can.
See,
http://phillyimc.org/en/casino-philadelphia-airport
Press release from Casino-Free Philadelphia | Philadelphia
Submitted by tony (no verificado) on Sáb, 04/21/2012 - 1:31amI could not refrain from commenting. Well
written!
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