FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Doug Bailey, 617-332-0700, 617-335-8136

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE PRO-CASINO COALITION

What The Casino Advocates Don’t Want To Talk About

BOSTON – Feb. 19, 2008 - Casino Free Mass, the grassroots organization opposing Gov. Deval Patrick’s plan for three casinos in Massachusetts, today challenged a new pro-casino group to respond to five questions about the alleged benefits of turning the Bay State into the Play State.

1.If casinos are the answer to solving our budget and taxation issues, why do the states of New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island, have higher taxes AND projected budget deficits? (In fact, 19 of the 28 states projecting budget deficits also have casino-style gambling).

2.How much will it cost taxpayers to support the regulatory and bureaucratic bodies that will oversee Massachusetts casinos? (Based on the experience of other states, about $75-80 million a year, amounts nearly equal to Connecticut’s take from the relatively small number of Massachusetts residents who gamble there).

3.Why should we believe that the construction of three casinos would provide five times the number of jobs created by the Big Dig, the most expensive construction project in history?

4.The Massachusetts Lottery currently returns 28 cents of every dollar to cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The governor’s proposal would return about 2.5 cents of every dollar wagered at his casinos and would result in an estimated 10 percent to 18 percent drop in Lottery sales. Why is this a good deal for Massachusetts?

5.How can you guarantee a level of revenue for the Commonwealth from casinos when gambling revenue is falling at casinos across the country and any changes will severely throw the governor’s assumptions out of whack?

Massachusetts doesn’t need to give in to the whim of casino moguls who want to grow their profits on the financial losses of our citizens. We can do better.

The Casino Free Mass coalition include: The National Association on Mental Illness, Massachusetts Chapter; the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts; the National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts Chapter; the Massachusetts Catholic Conference; the Massachusetts Council of Churches; the Massachusetts Family Institute; the Interchurch Council of Greater New Bedford;  the Muslim American Society, Boston Chapter; Casinofacts.org

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