If you'd like, you can copy and paste the letter below (change it anyway you like) and e-mail it to your State Representative and State Senator.
CLICK HERE or HERE if you're not sure who your State Rep or Senator is, or how to contact them. (*Choose your "Rep in General Court" and "Senate in General Court")
I am writing to urge you to support recently filed legislation, Bill S00150, relative to an independent analysis of expanding gaming in the Commonwealth.
Since 2008, three previous studies, some at taxpayer expense, have been performed by non-independent firms - firms which could stand to benefit if gambling legislation is passed. None of these studies fully accounted for the true costs of expanded gambling, focusing mainly on it's benefits. I would be interesting in learning your position on this bill.
Furthermore, I don't believe we should attempt to balance our budget by instituting a new regressive tax, which disproportionately impacts low income people and the elderly. Casinos haven't stopped or alleviated budget crises in other states and there's no reason to believe it would be any different here.
Expanded gambling will hurt our communities by taking money out of the local economy and putting it into the hands of wealthy casino owners. When predatory casinos and slot parlors enter a community, incidences of bankruptcy, foreclosure, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect all go up. And for people who live within a 50 mile radius of casinos, at least one out of every twenty becomes a gambling addict.
I am concerned that the social and economic costs of casino gambling outweigh any negligible financial gain to the Commonwealth. Furthermore, I am opposed to the state partnering with a predatory industry whose revenue depends on targeting addicted gamblers.
Please support Bill S00150. The people of the Commonwealth deserve a full, transparent reporting on this issue.
