Dear Friend of the Christian Action League,
Lawmakers are trying to wrap up their work and go home. So hundreds of bills are quickly being rushed through and political deals are being made. It can be, unfortunately, a time of great danger for North Carolina.
That’s why I’m letting you know that there is a serious effort afoot to pass a gambling measure that would expand gaming at Harrah’s Casino on the Cherokee reservation to Las Vegas style games. It’s our understanding the Governor wants this and there are Republicans and Democrats, who are pushing it as a “jobs bill.” They argue allowing live dealers for games such as Black Jack, Roulette, Craps, etc, would create as many as 400 or more opportunities of employment.
Being left out of the equation, however, are the social consequences to both the Cherokee people and the citizens of this state. To allow this form of gaming will draw a riskier clientele. Games of this nature would attract gambling enthusiasts of the worst kind to North Carolina – those who are truly problem and pathological gamblers. Moreover, the games will create more problem and pathological gambling, which will take a terrible toll on families and result in increased problems with crime.
Nothing would really be gained for the state by this proposed action because for every $1 the government gets from gambling, there is a corresponding expenditure of $2 to $3 in social and economic costs. (Grinols and Mustard, 2001, “Business Profitability vs. Social Profitablility: The Case of Casinos,” Managerial & Decision Economics 22) Each problem gambler costs society from $13,000 to $52,000 per year. (Robert Goodman, ‘The Luck Business,’ New York city: Free Press, 1995) And, as much as 25-50% of Casino revenues come from problem and pathological gamblers. (Grinols and Mustard, 2001, “Business Profitability vs. Social Profitablility: The Case of Casinos,” Managerial & Decision Economics 22)
For the sake of brevity, I am only mentioning just a portion of the negative consequences that come from the expansion of gambling in this way.
Still, there is one more point to be made. A bill of this magnitude should not be considered in the “witching hours” of the legislative process. It needs careful deliberation by lawmakers. Lawmakers cannot give a question of this importance the attention to detail, considering all the factors involved, that it truly deserves in the last fleeting moments of the legislative process.
Keep in mind every time gambling expands in any form in North Carolina, it’s like an infection that can grow and spread to other parts of the state. Please contact your lawmaker in both the House and the Senate without delay and ask him/her to oppose any legislative proposal that would expand gambling at the Casino on the Cherokee reservation.
Your contacting them, without procrastination, may stop any proposal of this nature. So please email them now. Last, but certainly not least, please remember to pray earnestly about this matter.
God Bless,
Rev. Mark H. Creech, Executive Director
Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.
To Email Your Representative and Senator click here
P.S. Would you consider a generous gift to the Christian Action League at this time? Your gifts keep the Christian Action League working to represent your Christian values every day the North Carolina General Assembly is in session. This is a time of great financial challenge for the League, we would appreciate your help. To give, please go to this link on our web page, where your gift may be safely given online. If you choose to mail your contribution, please send it to: Christian Action League, 809 Spring Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27609. Thank you!