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John Alan Boryk

JohnAlan@StopPredatoryGambling.org

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FAITH LEADERS URGE QUINN AND RAUNER TO RULE OUT GAMBLING EXPANSION

Faith Leaders Decry Perennial Expansion Proposal as Distraction From Real Issues

Chicago (October 15, 2014) – Prominent members of Illinois’ faith communities today signed an open letter addressed to Gov. Pat Quinn and GOP gubernatorial nominee Bruce Rauner urging them to focus on issues of criminal, economic and social justice and not be distracted by calls to further expand gambling in Illinois. The Illinois-chapter of Stop Predatory Gambling organized the letter in response to increased discussion of gaming expansion on the campaign trail.

 

“In an election season there are many issues which divide our state, but Illinois’ faith leaders share a common belief that more state-sanctioned gambling only causes more problems,” said John Alan Boryk, Illinois coordinator for Stop Predatory Gambling, who organized the letter. “The faith community is clear, Illinois’ path to future prosperity is not found in policies that drain the wealth of citizens and furthers economic inequality”

 

Notable signatories of the letter include Rev. Dr. Myron McCoy, senior pastor at The Chicago Temple and Stephen J. Thurston, Sr., senior pastor New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church and immediate past president of the National Baptist Convention of America.

 

The letter reads in part, “Gambling expansion is not a financial panacea; it benefits the special interests, but not the common interest. If gambling expansion were a magical solution, the explosion of neighborhood slot parlors would have solved all of our state’s financial troubles. Instead, it has only injected another vice into our communities.”

 

Illinois has added 18,000 slot machines at neighborhood bars, gas stations, restaurants, VFW halls and other locations, the equivalent of adding 15 new casinos. Citizens have lost more than $725 million at these slots since they were legalized in September 2012. Hundreds of businesses are exploiting a loophole to open casino cafes, which are essentially unsupervised neighborhood mini-casinos with video slots.

 

In editorial board meetings and in the Oct. 14 gubernatorial debate, Quinn and Rauner have been asked to detail their position on pending gaming expansion proposals that would authorize up to 13,500 new gambling positions at five new casinos, including a massive state-financed casino on Chicago’s lakefront, and allowing thousands of slots at five horse racing tracks. The bill also calls for the state to issue $900 million in bonds to build the Chicago casino.

 

“While the election is winding down, the perennial issue of gambling expansion will remain,” concluded Boryk. “This letter is only the beginning, faith leaders will continue to publicly oppose policies that further economic inequality with their congregations, the public and elected leaders no matter who wins in November.”

 

About Stop Predatory Gambling

 

Stop Predatory Gambling is 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 2008, Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation is a national trans-partisan coalition of individuals and organizations representing more than 10 million citizens from diverse backgrounds, political convictions and religious faiths. For more information please visit stoppredatorygambling.org.