Missouri is currently the only state that
limits gambling losses to $500 for any two-hour period. That limit has
just survived a legislative test.
The article and online poll by The St.
Louis Post-Dispatch can be found at:
from - http://www.responsiblegambling.org/staffsearch/latest_news_articles_details.cfm?intID=10290
Author:
Source: Huntington Herald-Dispatch
Published: Jun 08, 07
Full Document:
WEST VIRGINIA — It was surprising enough to hear recently that West Virginia Lottery officials want more control over the state’s programs to help problem gamblers overcome their addiction. Now more evidence has come forward to suggest that someone at the Lottery is pushing plans that would destroy the credibility of the state’s efforts to help problem gamblers. Gov. Joe Manchin said Wednesday that he supports state Lottery Director John Musgrave’s request for a review into charges that the agency has improperly interfered with the program designed to help compulsive gamblers. This review is needed — quickly and thoroughly. The most serious allegations have been made by Mia Moran-Cooper, who was fired by the Problem Gamblers Help Network on Thursday. On Wednesday, she began providing e-mails to lawmakers. Those messages appear to substantiate some of her claims.
Deborah Tetley, Calgary Herald, Saturday, June 16, 2007
As horse-racing lovers lament the loss of playing the live ponies in the heart of Calgary after Sunday, those in the industry are bracing for losses hovering around $12 million a year, given a replacement track planned for Balzac is nearly two years behind schedule.
Months of fights over water — and still no deal approved — have prompted developers behind the planned casino, mega-mall and horse-racing track to warn Alberta’s roughly 7,000 horsemen and women of the potential for hardship ahead.
“With a major racetrack closed, we’re looking at fewer racing dates across the province and many lost opportunities,” said Max Gibb, CEO of United Horsemen of Alberta, one of the developers.
Clerk of scales at Stampede racetrack Alex Ferris is out of work as of Sunday.
Ted Rhodes, Calgary Herald
“We are going to see people leaving the province to look for work,” said Gibb. “It’s going to hurt and be tough for a lot of people until we get this going.”
His comments come as horse racing fans take in the final live races at Stampede Park over the weekend, with Sunday’s final showdowns marking the end of a 120-year era.
It will be an emotional day for many.
“Racing downtown is part of the Calgary culture,” said the Stampede’s senior rodeo manager, Keith Marrington. “A lot of fans have been loyal to us for many years, so it’s going to be sad to see it end.”
Some fans and longtime industry employees fear two years will be too long to wait for the sport to return to the Calgary area.
“It’s sad to see this happening,” said Carl Mograbee, who has walked to the Stampede grounds once or twice a week for the past 20 years to watch the races.
“The industry is already going backwards and this is threatening for them and for the fans.”
Mograbee, 63, figures after two decades, he will take in his last live races this weekend.
“I won’t find my way through the obstacles of this city and Deerfoot Trail to go north of the city. A lot of the people I talk to say they won’t, either.”
Gibb, however, has confidence the industry will flourish once the new track is built, since the facility will be “one for the 21st century,” with a one-mile
(1.6-kilometre) track (the Stampede’s is 5/8ths of a mile) and an unobstructed view, unlike the current venue.
“We are going to be able to showcase the sport’s entertainment value.”
The idea of building a horse racing track at Balzac was first floated in the late ’90s. In 2004, Gibb, of the Calgary-based UHA, announced that the then-$80-million track, hotel and casino complex had been granted building permits and a 10-year licence and the project would open in the spring of 2007.
Earlier in 2004, the Stampede and Horseracing Regulatory Authority tried to come up with a plan to keep the track on the grounds, but couldn’t agree on the configurations.
Since then, the Municipal District of Rocky View has failed in several bids to source water for the now $1-billion entertainment venue on the east side of Highway 2, just north of the city limits.
Permits to draw water from the Red Deer and Bow rivers have been denied.
The M.D. is now negotiating an irrigation plan with farmers in the area to transfer water rights. A decision will be made next Thursday.
By Doug Dobmeyer, June 15, 2007, 2007 Sun-Times News Group.
I am writing on behalf of the Task Force to Oppose Gambling in Chicago to formally ask Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan that no casino be allocated for Chicago and the environs. While it is an idea that some members and Mayor Richard Daley have promoted, the negatives outweigh the positives.
As you know, more money would flow to the state and city — but at what cost? We believe the cost will be prohibitive in terms of effect on social well-being and reputation of the city. While estimates of income range to $200 million in city revenues and more for the state, those numbers will fall short of what is needed. The needs are infinite.
Next year and years afterward, the numbers only will be higher, and expansion of casinos would be sought as a matter of course. While the legislature may be hungry for more money this year, that hunger will remain unabated.
Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association, which represents eight out of Illinois’ nine casinos, repeated recent House Gaming testimony in a recent interview: “The association has been opposed to the bill simply because it increases the number of gaming positions in the state so dramatically that it’s going to impact the existing casinos. The market will not absorb that kind of an increase in gaming without it deteriorating the (revenues of the) existing casinos.”
Daley never has made a public case for the money casinos would generate. Chicago is not in debt, and we meet payroll and perform development in all parts of the city. … Because the city has leased the Skyway Bridge for $2 billion and has more than $400 million in Tax Increment Financing accounts, the argument (for more revenue) is negated even more.
He has said casinos — if owned by the city or state — would be the way to maximize the take for government. What a bad public policy idea to have government be both the regulator and “the man” who takes the people’s money in a gambling enterprise.
Task Force members live in the city and do not believe Chicago’s reputation will be enhanced by having a casino. … A Chicago casino would change the nature of the city forever.
Chicago is surrounded by casinos in the suburbs, Indiana and Wisconsin. There are places for the gambling public to go.
Chicago is a world-class city now. We have great museums, the symphony, the lakefront, architecture, restaurants, theater and so much more. What could a casino possibly add other than the sleaze factor?
As you well know, Chicago has its own problems with corruption. Casinos, with the prospect of money as milk and honey, only will add to that problem. Creating a casino in Chicago would further undermine people’s confidence in city government because of the numerous corruption scandals that have occurred in the city.
Addiction among hard-core gamblers is on the rise. A city casino and three others only will increase that problem.
Finally, no one has bothered to ask people in Chicago through a referendum what they think of this radical change. A hint in a recent Chicago Tribune poll revealed 64 percent of statewide voters opposed casino expansion in the state.
For the betterment of Chicago and Illinois, we ask you to stop this move to increase casinos in the state and one or more for Chicago. You have been a strong and fair speaker. Please continue that role.
The Task Force to Oppose Gambling for Chicago is a coalition of religious, civic and neighborhood organizations committed to opposing casino gambling in Chicago. Doug Dobmeyer is spokesman for the Task Force.
