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Bill Allows Gambling On Video Games

May 17, 2007

Gambling is coming to your community.

While people are crying for relief from exorbitant gasoline prices and energy bills, legislators have found time to vote on a gambling bill.

HB 1124 (which on Wednesday passed both houses of the Illinois Legislature) will legalize video gambling in bars. That may sound harmless to some, but it is not.

Children have grown up playing video games. Adding the element of cash and prizes will make the activity even more attractive to young adults. Many will become addicted to gambling.

HB 1124 legalizes gambling on video games "simulating contests" in bars, restaurants, convenience stores, bowling alleys and truck stops.

The bill defines a bona fide contest as being between two or more individuals. Hundreds of thousands of such "contests" could be played each year in every community statewide.

While HB 1124 states that card games are not included, this type of gambling will expand in increments. Gambling interests will come back each year until video poker is legalized in every community.

HB 1124 will make it impossible to police these establishments to determine if illegal gambling is going on. Gamblers will expect a "payout" on all video machines in bars, convenience stores, bowling alleys, restaurants and truck stops. Organized crime and money laundering are real concerns.

Video machine gambling is very addictive. Research has shown that gamblers take more risks and gamble longer when they are drinking alcohol.

Call the governor and ask him to stop this expansion of gambling in every community.

-- Anita Bedell (Daily Southtown)

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