Georgia legislators and a cadre of gambling lobbyists have tried legalizing gambling, stating it was for the children. That failed for seven years. Now one state senator is dangling revenues from gambling to every county in the state.
State Sen. Carden Summers, R-Cordele, sent an email to local elected officials with misleading information (like on this year’s Republican primary ballot question) about legalization. It begins by citing huge support for the gambling question on the GOP ballot.
The ballot question was so convoluted and intentionally deceptive, several friends called and asked what it meant– including two with a Ph.D. Gambling was called “gaming,” and it also conveyed the sense that the people would be taking it out of the legislators’ hands. Next, although the support percentage was high, it was a low participation turnout (14 percent) and only directed to Republicans. It didn’t include Democrat and independent voters. Those factors render the vote nearly meaningless.
The gambling industry is already targeting our children on their phones and video games, encouraging them to play on slot machines to receive free stuff. The federal level understands the dangers through recently passed legislation in the U.S Senate (a bipartisan vote of 91-3) called The Kids Online Safety Act.
A recent poll was also carried out on the targeting of children through technology.
We have a representative government for a reason. If the Georgia constitutional amendment is ever placed on the ballot, the ratio of spending on more deceptive advertising by the gambling interests over any non-profit or other organization that objects will be beyond overwhelming. The public doesn’t have the resources to educate themselves on this issue. The Legislature does, but some choose to ignore the facts documented by research on the harm inflicted by gambling. Some studies done at the University of Georgia (Terry College), Georgia State University and Mercer University show the negative outcomes of gambling and the destruction of our Georgia families.
The documented harms of gambling include:
Addiction: Gambling is the only behavioral addiction listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual by the American Psychiatric Association. Research confirms that gambling games are intentionally addictive, because without problem gamblers the business model doesn’t work. And once someone is addicted to one thing, the pathway in the brain is prepped for the next addiction.
Bankruptcy: Research from multiple universities shows the increase in bankruptcies whenever gambling becomes legal. Most initial bankruptcies are the gambler and his family and/or business. However, this can trigger other bankruptcies, as people down the line are robbed of payment for their goods and services by the initial bankruptcy. Also, consider the businesses directly defrauded by the problem gambler.
Crime: When gambling is legal, crime goes up. Petty crimes like stealing, but also spousal abuse, white collar crime, violent attacks and more. Corruption of our government is also a problem. I expect our best legislators will be run out of office using gambling money the first time they buck the gambling interests. How much money has your legislator gotten from gambling interests and their lobbyists for his campaign?
Suicide: A former gambling addict visited our Georgia Capitol. He had been a well-respected attorney but became addicted to gambling, lost everything and attempted suicide. He was asked how many problem gamblers strongly considered suicide. He said, “Every one of them I’ve ever talked with.”
Watch this testimony concerning sports gambling from a mom whose son became addicted to gambling. She explains the negative impact on her family to the state House of Representatives Higher Education Committee.
Do our elected officials want this to be their legacy?
Georgia has a great reputation in many areas. Any expansion of commercialized gambling will hurt that reputation and, more importantly, our citizens.
It is NOT always about money. The cost/benefit analysis fails to make a good case for gambling expansion. Our childrens’ safety must be first! Georgia will be putting them last if they choose to support gambling expansion.
Jeanne Seaver of Savannah is the founder/president of Moms Against Gambling.
