Oppose Predatory Gambling in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Catholic Conference

MCC-Net Alert

March 18, 2010--Updated April 7, 2010

The Massachusetts House of Representatives will be debating in early April a bill to legalize class III gambling, slots/casinos.  House Bill 4591, sponsored by House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo,   includes provisions for two casinos and four slot parlors. This would allow two federally recognized Native American tribes to also host sovereign casinos, resulting in four casinos and four slot parlors. Additionally, six other tribes are in the process of applying for federal recognition.

• The predatory gambling industry preys on human weaknesses for its own profit.
• Small, local businesses loose and fail as customers spend their money with the gambling industry, rather than supporting local theatres, restaurants, stores and businesses.
• 85% of Slot Parlor patrons live locally. This industry depends upon and cultivates new addicted gamblers. Gambling addiction would cause our neighbors, family and friends in Massachusetts to experience an increase in domestic violence, child abuse, suicide, bankruptcy and foreclosures.
• Casinos have contributed to, not helped, the fiscal meltdown in other states (Rockefeller Institute Study, September 2009).
• Slot machines and social gambling are not the same.

“Every feature of a slot  machine-its mathematical structure, visual graphics, sound dynamics, seating and screen ergonomics is calibrated to increase a gambler’s ‘time on device’ and to encourage play to extinction” (Dr. Natasha Dow Schull, Assistant Professor,MIT)

Expanding gambling is fiscally poor public policy with devastating consequences for the local economy, culture, family and the overall health and safety of communities.

The Catholic Church is not opposed to recreational gambling. However, when gambling deprives someone of what is necessary to provide for his/her needs and the needs of their families, the church must speak in opposition. 

The Massachusetts economy will not benefit from becoming a host for casino capitalism, a predatory industry that is failing miserably, while destroying lives.

 Take Action Today!

1. Call, write and email your State Representative and State Senator voicing your opposition to expanded predatory gambling.
   • Visit www.wheredoivotema.com to find the contact information for your elected officials.
2. Visit our website www.macathconf.org and read Conference testimony.

Massachusetts Catholic Conference
West End Place, Suite 5
150 Staniford St.
Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2511
(v) 617-367-6060
(f) 617-367-2767
(e) staff@macathconf.org
(w) http://www.macathconf.org

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