No Dice group won’t take a gamble on slot machines

The state legislature has been mulling over whether to legalize slot machines at racetracks,… The state legislature has been mulling over whether to legalize slot machines at racetracks, in hopes of bringing Pennsylvania some much-needed revenue. Meanwhile, a grassroots movement concerned about moral decay is working to put an end to the discussion.

On a May 27 gathering at the South Side’s First Presbyterian Church, members of No Dice, a lobbying group opposed to any form of legalized gambling, laid out its case with the help of Tom Grey, a former Methodist preacher and the head of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling.

“I know what a casino is,” Grey said to a group of about fifty activists. “It is a business designed to separate people from their money.”

Grey said that in a metropolitan area of 1 million people, 40,000 will become addicted to gambling. Taxpayers, he argued, will then shoulder the burden of paying for the vices of gambling, such as bankruptcy, crime and expenses accrued by gambling addicts.

“The point is, for every $1 you bring in, you spend $1.90 on crime and addiction,” he said.

Grey took the stance that legalized gambling “builds our future on the losses of others.”

“If that works,” he challenged, “show me.”

Grey expressed confidence in the citizens to oppose the bill, saying “I always bet on the people.” He then encouraged those in attendance to “light a fire under their legislators” by calling, mailing and e-mailing them. He also encouraged them to vote against the proposal and to tell others to do the same.No Dice has a successful track record of opposing gambling measures, effectively staving off an attempt to build a riverboat casino in the South Side in 1995.

“Lots of people look at this and say ‘this won’t affect me,'” Evan Stoddard, co-founder and president of No Dice, said. “Ladies and gentlemen, it will affect all of us.”

Stoddard opposes the measure because, he said, “it preys on the least advantaged of our society.”

Many of those opposed to legalized gambling fear that people who could least afford to risk their entire paychecks would be the ones most tempted to do just that.

Though not in attendance at the meeting, State Rep. Tim Solobay (D-48th District, Central Washington County) broke down the bill, drawn up by State Sen. Robert M. Tomlinson (R-6th District, Bucks County).

“Basically, what we’re hearing is that 92 cents on the dollar goes back to the player; 8 cents will be the pot of money that gets split up. Thirty-five percent of that will go to the state, 49 percent will go to the track owners, which leaves 16 percent for the breeders,” he said.

Out of that 35 percent, Solobay explained, money will be funneled into the host municipality, the host school district and the host county.

“The 35 percent that the state’s going to get back is estimated at anywhere from $350 million to $750 million, depending on the on the number of machines at each track and how many locations have permits,” he said.

The revenue generated by slot machines will go toward goals like educational funding and lowering the property tax

“You have to look at the benefit side of things,” Solobay said, defending the bill.

After the steel mills and factories closed, he said, Pennsylvania’s economy shifted from manufacturing and industry toward service and agriculture. Bringing slots to racetracks, he argued, will bolster that service economy for two reasons.

First, slots draw Pennsylvanians, and around $8 billion a year, across state lines. Pennsylvanians are, in effect, paying for West Virginia’s and New Jersey’s schools and road repairs.

Second, racetracks will need to expand in order to accommodate slot venues. To do that, the racetracks will need to hire construction companies to do the work, which, in turn, would create job opportunities.

Washington County, home of the Meadows Racetrack, could benefit from this employment windfall.

“There are 1,000 families that are affected, in one way or another, by whether the Meadows Racetrack stays open,” Solobay said.

Slots would attract people to the area, causing development to accommodate the influx of visitors, Solobay added.

Pennsylvanians favor the bill by a margin of three to one, according to Solobay. Both chambers also generally approve of the measure, he said. He remains confident that, unless the state’s portion is not “watered down,” Governor Rendell will sign it.