1. Casinos in Ohio A Social, Economic, and Spiritual Issue

2. The deck is stacked… There is a proposed constitutional amendment in Ohio to grant commercial casinos a monopoly – something no other business in Ohio has. It specifies a bargain-rate license fee of $15 million ($200 million is the norm in most states) per casino. It permits operation 24/7 for 352 days a year. It authorizes casinos to obtain more than one liquor license regardless of local quotas or option requirements. It guarantees casino owners 70% of gross revenues after prize payouts while only providing 28% to county governments after Clinton County receives $30 million. The state would receive no money from the casino. And it gets worse…

3. The proposed amendment says that if any other casino is authorized in Ohio, the tax rate for all casinos will either be 25% or the lowest percentage rate payable by any other casino. Who wins? Casino investors! When tribal casinos open in Ohio, the proposed amendment would lower the tax rate for the Clinton County casino to as low as 0%. No other business in Ohio receives constitutional protection from paying taxes. Tribal casinos are not required to pay local or state taxes. It took 4 years for a tribe in Michigan to gain legal rights to land. Lyle Berman worked with them and developed the Four Winds Casino. Agreements are in place between the Eastern Shawnee and local Ohio communities for proposed casinos in Ohio. The Eastern Shawnee have asked to be recognized by the federal government in the state of Ohio. The primary funder of this casino is Lyle Berman of Lakes Entertainment in Minnesota. He has built 5 Native American casinos. Why is this so important?

4. What are the odds for our neighbors and communities? An estimated 40% of white collar crime has its roots in gambling. Suicides in cities with casinos are 4 times higher than in comparable cities without gambling. In counties with neighboring casinos, 8.6% of property crime and 12.6% of violent crimes are caused by casinos. In counties with casinos, the rates are much higher! Bankruptcy rates are 100% higher in counties with casinos than in counties without casinos. If gambling is within 50 miles, the chances of people in your community becoming addicted increase by 50% (75% if your community is poor). Patrons of casinos in the Midwest come overwhelmingly from their surrounding local communities.

5. Gambling, Poverty, and Families In Harrison County, Mississippi, a domestic violence counselor testified that after casinos arrived, the number of requests for domestic abuse intervention increased by 300%. Significant child neglect has been reported, with 10-17% of children of compulsive gamblers being abused. Divorce and family breakdown are closely associated with gambling. In one survey, 53.5% of pathological gamblers were divorced, versus 18.2% for non-gamblers. 4.2 million Americans are addicted gamblers and 60% make less than $25,000 per year. 60% of casino revenues come from gamblers making less than $25,000 per year. Gambling preys on people who are poor, luring them with the promise of life free from financial worries and burdens.

6. “Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” – Jesus Who, in Ohio, will lose?

7. Sources: “Vote No Casino Gambling! Proposed Amendment Fact Sheet, The United Methodist Anti-Gambling Taskforce. “Vote No Casino Gambling! Community Impact Fact Sheet, The United Methodist Anti- Gambling Taskforce. Photo Credits (all from stock.xchng): Anissa Thompson Jyn Meyer Christie Merrill Marja Flick-Buijs Astri Lukitasari Jeff Prieb Allen Pope Piotr Dorabiala Michal Zacharzewski Chris Johnson Jenny Erickson Benjamin Earwicker