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Republican candidate for Governor of Alabama Tim James on GAMBLING--using real numbers and real facts. Thank you, Tim!


NEWSLETTER

January 8, 2010

Casino Gambling: Not the Answer to Alabama’s State Fiscal Crisis

In state after state, legislatures are faced with varying degrees of fiscal disarray. California must come up with a staggering $34 billion to fill a budget hole created by years of fiscal irresponsibility. Here in Alabama, state fiscal experts recently reported our budget hole will be $676 million with next year predicted to hold even worse deficit numbers.

This sets up Alabama and many other states as vulnerable to casino gambling interests with the sales pitch that our budget problems would somehow go away if their operations were legalized.

Here in Alabama, there’s a debate raging as to whether our casino gambling known as “charity bingo” is either legal or illegal.

Untold millions of dollars raked in at these so-called charity bingo parlors are not taxed by the State of Alabama. As a result, there is no funding to compensate communities for higher crime rates, treatment for problem gambling and other social ills attributable to gambling.

According to a national research study on the social and economic costs of casinos on communities, gambling puts a $40 billion drag on Americans. (Source: “Casinos, Crime & Community Costs,” Sept. 2004) The same research shows that 8% of the crime in every county with a casino is attributable to gambling, and that there is a $75 per adult social cost for this increase in crime.

If you multiply that $75 cost factor by the 3.5 million adults in Alabama, you get $262.5 million. That’s roughly what casino gambling lobbyists tell us the State of Alabama will receive in additional tax revenue if their industry is legalized.

Casino gambling isn’t the answer to our state’s fiscal woes, based on that one statistic alone. Factor in the higher rates of crime, divorce and personal bankruptcy, it’s clear that casino gambling is a bad bet for the people of Alabama.

Playing charity bingo, an Alabama type of slot machine, is rampant in our state. Governor Bob Riley a year ago declared war on charity bingo, calling it illegal. Since then, the courts have sided with the Governor in a series of decisions. Let’s hope the courts resolve this matter, once and for all, as pro-gambling interests and their allies will continue tying up legislative progress on a host of critical issues this year and in years to come.

“Let the people of Alabama decide!” is the rallying cry of the casino forces. That sounds well and good, but what we have seen to date from this crowd is a “heads we win, tails you lose” situation that protects the turf for certain operators while keeping competitors out. Even if you were inclined to vote for casino gambling, that arrangement is nothing but a fool’s bargain.

Just as sure as the sun will rise in the east tomorrow, pro-gambling lobbyists will be in Montgomery working on their legislative agenda. They will also contribute vast sums to politicians running for public office this election.

I am not their candidate, nor am I accepting their financial support.

So far in this campaign, my fellow gubernatorial candidates have taken their positions on gambling. Most are against casinos, or at least lead us to believe they are. My position is very simple: I oppose gambling in all forms. Gambling has never proven itself to be the economic development stimulus its proponents claim, and its social costs are high.

The best result for the people of Alabama is to put this issue behind us, once and for all, and move forward by putting Alabama’s economy back on track, improving the quality of our public schools, and finally making government accountable to the taxpayers. Casino gambling isn’t the answer to any of them.
Sincerely,

TIM JAMES
Original Post

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How can you put the issue of gambling to rest? When you have illegal gambling, like you did in the bootlegging days of alcoholic beverages, white lightening, etc.. It took cities in Alabama years to go from dry to wet because of the people in the churches voting against legalizing alcohol in the cities of Alabama. By voting against the lottery in Alabama, you hurt Alabama more than you help it because you are keeping Alabama from receiving revenue from the taxes from gambling. I never understood why churches never get the picture. Either way, people are going to drink and gamble. If you don't want your good Christians to be tempted by it, then don't play bingo.
quote:
Originally posted by Nobluedog:
How can you put the issue of gambling to rest? When you have illegal gambling, like you did in the bootlegging days of alcoholic beverages, white lightening, etc.. It took cities in Alabama years to go from dry to wet because of the people in the churches voting against legalizing alcohol in the cities of Alabama. By voting against the lottery in Alabama, you hurt Alabama more than you help it because you are keeping Alabama from receiving revenue from the taxes from gambling. I never understood why churches never get the picture. Either way, people are going to drink and gamble. If you don't want your good Christians to be tempted by it, then don't play bingo.


You didn't read what I posted, did you? Or if you did, you just ignored the description of the negatibe economic consequences of gambling. Do you have anything to say about the subject that would refute what James is saying?Perhaps Christians who object to gambling do so for some of the same reasons that James describes. I do NOT endorse bingo in churches, lodges, or other venues, even if the proceeds go to "good causes." Churches that use Bingo or other games of chance to raise money forfeit their credibility insofar as opposing other forms of gambling. Churches that use Bingo as a fundraising scheme are a very small minority--at least in Alabama.
This will NOT become a habit. But, in this case I agree with BTU. Legal gambling is just smoke and mirrors. Indiana has all sorts of legal gambling. Where ALL that money goes, is just a guess. Almost everything "they" said would happen, hasn't. Schools were to be the big winners. Our leaders are now cutting funds to schools. Legal gambling is not the answer, for funding state money needs.
I was living in Decatur years ago when the wet dry issue came up. It was supposed to be the answer to aal the monetary problems with the schools. The city voted wet and the rest is history. Zero percent change in the school system. The only problem I have with gambling is the easier access for those who can least afford it. When casinos will cash you welfare check for you that's just wrong.
quote:
Originally posted by ferrellj:
I was living in Decatur years ago when the wet dry issue came up. It was supposed to be the answer to aal the monetary problems with the schools. The city voted wet and the rest is history. Zero percent change in the school system. The only problem I have with gambling is the easier access for those who can least afford it. When casinos will cash you welfare check for you that's just wrong.


Would you feel better if they cashed it at the liquor store and then took it to the casino?

People do stupid things whether it's sactioned by the state or church...Stupid irresponsible people shouldn't be the basis of infringing on someone else's moral/personal decisions.
Legalizing alcohol gained taxes lost to liquor being brought in anyway.

Simply adopting Powerball or Mega-millions without a state lottery would result in more funds going to our neighboring states.

I lived in cities with lottery and casinos, but set my gambling budget to $100 per year. Just enough to visit and enjoy and not suffer financially. Besides, the cafes were good.

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