ACTION ALERT
Please forward this message to your congregation and post the link on your website: www.stopvideopokerpa.com
Join the battle to stop thousands of Pennsylvania restaurants and taverns from becoming mini-casinos.
Fast-track legislation is before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to allow every licensed restaurant and tavern to install video poker machines.
If the legislation is approved, thousands more gambling machines could be brought into neighborhood restaurants and taverns than are allowed in the state's slot machine parlors. That is a potential of 70,000 video poker machines in neighborhoods and communities across Pennsylvania.
The threat to our communities is real. Protect our communities from mini-casinos. Join our fight. Take action now.
What You Can Do
Join our fight. Send an email to your legislator and Gov. Rendell. Call their offices. Tell your friends, neighbors and colleagues at work.
How to take action: www.stopvideopokerpa.com
Pennsylvania Methodists Lead Effort to Block Video Poker Proposal; 'Bad Bet' Would More than Double Gambling Machines in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania United Methodists are taking a leading role in the fight to defeat a proposal that could create up to 14,000 mini casinos in restaurants and taverns across the state.
Stephen Drachler, executive director of A United Methodist Witness in Pennsylvania is a leader of a growing coalition of faith, community, and other organizations that is urging Pennsylvanians opposed to this expansion of gambling to contact Gov. Ed Rendell and their legislators and express their concern.
"More gambling is a bad bet for Pennsylvania," said Drachler while urging United Methodists to contact Gov. Edward Rendell and their legislators to oppose the legislation, House Bill 1317.
"This proposal would bring video poker, the crack cocaine of gambling, into restaurants and bars," Drachler said. "If this becomes law, there could be more gambling machines in restaurants and bars than the Legislature authorized in slots parlors across the state."
Drachler urged United Methodists to contact the governor and legislators through the coalition's new Web site: www.stopvideopokerpa.com.
"Let the governor and your legislator know that you and your church oppose expansion of gambling in Pennsylvania," Drachler said. The United Methodist Church has historically taken a hard line in opposing gambling, including state lotteries.
"The United Methodist Church's position is clear: gambling is a poison that hurts families and communities. By its volatile nature, video poker feeds into a 'lust for money that brings trouble and nothing but trouble,' as the Apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to Timothy. "Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after." (1 Timothy 6:10 The Message) Drachler said.
In addition to A United Methodist Witness in Pennsylvania, the coalition includes the Pennsylvania Family Institute, League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, Casino Free Philadelphia, Casino Free PA, and the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. Drachler said other groups are urged to join the coalition.
Rep. Dante Santoni, D-Berks, chair of the House Gaming Oversight Committee, introduced legislation Monday to legalize video gambling, including video poker, in 14,000 restaurants and taverns across Pennsylvania. Each licensed facility could have up to five gambling machines. He has proposed using profits from the machines to provide scholarships for students attending universities in the State System of Higher Education and Pennsylvania's community colleges.
"We are extremely disappointed with Rep. Santoni for introducing this legislation," Drachler said. "One, he chairs the committee charged with oversight of gambling in Pennsylvania, not promoting it. And two, we believe it's cynical and unfair to use higher education as a pawn. Assistance to college students should be funded through the regular budget process."
Drachler said leading researchers consider video poker to be extremely addictive, especially when it would be easily accessible in community restaurants and taverns. Allowing gambling in restaurants would radically change the environment by exposing children to gambling machines.
"When someone wins at video poker, or keno, or other form of legalized, that means many other people lose. We need to teach our children values of respect and consideration for others. This is a bad social policy," Drachler said.
A United Methodist Witness in Pennsylvania is the social advocacy arm of more than 2,400 United Methodist congregations in Pennsylvania.
For more information:
A United Methodist Witness in Pennsylvania
216 STATE STREET HARRISBURG,
PA 17101
(800) 511-4937 Toll Free
(717) 236-6363 Local
(717) 236-9138 Fax
info@umwitnesspa.org