The RECORD

By Steve Whiting, esq.

The following guest column ran in a December edition of the Portland Press Herald. It is authored by No Slots for Maine board member Steve Whiting.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a profusion of stories and editorials, appearing in both the press and the broadcast media, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the opening of Hollywood Slots in Bangor. Many of these stories have repeated the gambling interests' claims that the Hollywood Slots operation has made more money and spurred less crime than expected. Digging a little deeper shows otherwise.

First look at expected revenues. In April 2004, six months before the Bangor facility opened, it was projected by the developers that the total amount of money bet would reach $825 million per year, and that 90% of bets would be returned as winnings to the bettors. Thus the net gambling revenue (meaning the net losses by gamblers) that was expected by the developers prior to the operation of the facility was 10% of $825 million, or $82.5 million per year. That figure is fully consistent with betting behavior in other parts of the country.

The projected revenue of $82.5 million per year works out to $6.9 million per month. In the first twelve months, the net revenue of Hollywood Slots has risen to around $3.45 million per month, exactly half of the $6.9 million projected. Thus the first year's revenue experience at Bangor does not even come close to "beating expectations."

Similarly, the early crime data also comes as no surprise to those who follow this subject. Economists Earl Grinols and David Mustard, for example, have conducted an impressive study of the impact of casino construction on crime rates on a county-by-county basis throughout the country. They report there is no major impact on crime in the first year or two of operation.

However, after that initial quiet period, the situation deteriorates badly, with a steady rise observed, especially in property-related crimes. They found the rate of robberies in an average casino county rises from 100 robberies in a given time period before the opening of a casino up to 236 robberies in a corresponding time period five years after opening.

There are two main reasons for this delayed impact. First, the bettors themselves change with time. Psychologist Robert Breen has found that personality changes associated with the onset of gambling addiction take a year or more to fully develop. Secondly, most gamblers have access to a certain amount of wealth, such as retirement savings or the equity in their home. It would take even a truly dedicated gambler some time to lose, let's say, $150,000 at his favorite slot machine. It is only after an addicted gambler exhausts his own financial resources that he is likely to turn to crime to support his habit.

Over the next year or so of racino operation, full-blown gambling addiction will manifest itself in many of the racino's clients. Studies referenced on the No Slots for ME! web site have found that gambling addiction typically accounts for 40% of casino income. This means, for one thing, that we can expect to see further increases in monthly revenues, probably to a number very close to the $6.9 million projection.

But revenue gains coming from rising rates of addiction is a losing proposition for the people of Maine. Economists Grinols and Mustard have found that the financial cost of casino gambling to society just about matches, dollar for dollar, gambling revenues. Most of these costs originate in the out-of-control behavior of addicted gamblers, and the financial burden that this behavior places on their families, their employers, the police, the courts, and the penal system.

The first year's experience at Hollywood Slots does show us something, after all. What we have learned is that Mainers are just as vulnerable to the treacherous allure of slot machines as people in other parts of the county. All Mainers, including those who don't gamble, will get the bill for the large social costs that this vulnerability implies.

A few days ago, we received an email here in the League office. It was from a married couple, evangelical Christians who lead a small congregation in rural Maine. It read in part, "I am here to preach the gospel and not to get involved in politics. I truly do not believe that slot machines are good for Maine ... but I still have to say I cannot do what you asked of me."

And what exactly was it that was asked of this sincere, committed Christian couple? Were they asked to move mountains, extract water from stone, or feed five thousand men with five loaves of bread and two fish? No, no miracles were asked of them. Instead, they were asked to help stop slot machine gambling in our state.

They were asked to volunteer and assist the No Slots for ME! signature collection effort to get the issue on the ballot for 2007. It was a simple proposition: donate of your time and talents, and we may be able to stop the vice of slot machine gambling in our state, period. And yet, these good people refused. Why?

Well, their stated reason was that they "could" not help. There is no law stating that they legally could not help. There is no mention in their email of any physical infirmity that would prevent them from helping. Neither is the Scripture a moral barrier. In fact, the Bible is clear that Christians should not only reject evil themselves, but also warn others to depart from it.

What they actually meant is that they would" not help. Not that they "could" not, but that they "would" not.

That distinction is important. Our sinful human nature causes us to rationalize our actions. We think to ourselves "it's not that I do not want to help out, but that I cannot help out. If I could help, I certainly would, but I cannot for (blank) reason." That justification makes us feel better about not doing what we can to make our state a better place to live. It quiets our God-given conscience a bit. It makes us feel less guilty about not doing what we actually can do to help a just and worthy cause.

It is our comfortable Christianity. We Americans are blessed to live at this time and in this place. We have such incredible luxuries and wealth, and we often take for granted all that we have. We are largely selfish and greedy. We covet not only treasure, but also the time and talents our Lord has provided us.

Christians who tithe and do charitable works want even more time to ourselves and to our families. And so we say we do not have the time, or the ability, to do what needs to be done. We're far too comfortable in our Christianity.

Even some of us hard-working Mainers do not want to get our hands dirty by becoming involved in civic affairs. Better to let others collect the signatures to stop vice and promote virtue. They'll provide moral support (sign the petition and vote their traditional Christian values), but will not volunteer. If they did, their congregation might label them an "activist." And besides, they say, they're too busy to be able to help.

Our comfortable Christianity is killing Maine. We currently have abortion mills and gambling dens in our great state, and are well on the way to legalizing homosexual marriage. This is NOT the way life should be.

We are commanded not only to evangelize, but also to give of our treasure, time, and talents to the Lord. The support, or lack of support, of the Maine Christian community will decide whether or not we have an opportunity to vote on slot machine gambling next year. Some have already committed to help this effort succeed, but many have not. Many more volunteers are needed to be successful.

If you actually cannot give of your time and effort in this worthy, moral, Christian effort, then your generous financial donation would be greatly appreciated. More information can be found at the No Slots for ME! and Christian Civic League of Maine websites.

We need to break out of our comfortable Christianity. We must realize that the essence of being a follower of Christ is to "get our hands dirty" and to become involved. There are few greater testimonies than this.

God has given us a conscience for this very reason. We should listen to it, and act.

The Bangor Daily News reported today that the Passamaquoddy tribe has gathered enough signatures to force a vote on gambling. If successful, the proposed referendum measure will allow the tribe to build a "racetrack casino" in Washington County.

Fred Moore heads a group called the Washington County Tribal Track Coalition that has been gathering signatures for a year. They failed to present enough signatures in January. Signature collection efforts at the June primary put them over the top.

The Secretary of State will review the signatures and expects to rule on their veracity by the end of September. A statewide vote on the proposal will not take place until 2007. The new legislature, that will not begin meeting until January, gets the first look at the proposal. They can directly enact it if they wish. This would bypass the statewide vote. If they refuse to directly enact the measure, then it goes to the people unamended.

Washington County gamblers have desired a casino for a long time. The League led the way in stopping a 1994 proposal by Calais merchants and the tribe that went before the legislature in the form of a bill. Since then, the push for slot machine and casino style gambling has been gaining momentum.

Maine's depressing descent into casino-style gambling jumped to light speed a few years ago when agricultural fairs threw their support behind a Penn National proposal that was on the ballot. While Mainers rejected an Indian casino on that ballot, they approved the agricultural fair operation. Penn National is operating the Bangor casino. Many conservative Republican politicians in Maine support the expansion of gambling. Most prominent among them is Republican gubernatorial candidate Chandler Woodcock.

The only casino operating in Maine right now is located in the current Governor's hometown of Bangor. He claims he is opposed to gambling.

Washington County is not the only area that wants a casino. Oxford County has high stakes gamblers agitating for one also.

No Slots for ME! is circulating a petition aimed at banning casino gambling in Maine. For information about what you can do to help call 1-207-622-7634.

Doug Muir released more information today regarding the ten regions. Muir, the Campaign Chairman of No Slots for ME! has divided the state into ten regions. This organization will facilitate the gathering of 60,000 signatures on election day in November.

Muir's press release:

On Election Day, November 7, No Slots for ME! will offer voters the opportunity to sign petitions to ban slot machine gambling in Maine.

This ban will apply to any slot machine operated for profit within the state. The ban will be a strong deterrent to the operation of casinos and racinos in Maine, as these facilities derive over 75% of their revenues from slot machines.

Our petitions will be presented to the voters on Election Day at tables manned by local volunteers who, themselves, are registered Maine voters.

A set of polling places has been selected to serve as the focus for our signature gathering activity on Election Day. Full coverage of each of these polling place is desired, meaning that a volunteer or volunteers should be present with petition forms for the entire time the polling place is open.

The primary duty of a Regional Coordinator is to carry out all planning, recruitment and coordination activities necessary to assure that each of the designated polling places in his or her Region are fully covered with volunteers on Election Day, November 7. A Region corresponds to one or more Maine counties and typically includes thirty designated polling places. Click here to read about the regions.

In most cities and towns in the Region, a Regional Coordinator will be able to delegate responsibility for making local arrangements to a "town captain." The local arrangements include contacting the local town officials to request table space at the polls, recruiting volunteers to man the table, supplying those volunteers with the petitions forms and other needed materials, getting the gathered signatures certified by the appropriate town officials after the election, and forwarding the signatures to the Regional Coordinator.

In individual cases, it may be necessary for the Regional Coordinator also to perform some of the duties of a town captain.

Doug Muir, the statewide Campaign Coordinator for No Slots for ME!, announced today the list of regions that need coverage. Working through the No Slots for ME! political action committee (P.A.C.), Muir will work to find a volunteer to take responsibility in each region.

Each Regional Coordinator will fill 30 polling places with volunteer signature gatherers on Election Day in November. Muir has researched previous votes and determined which polling places must be staffed.

Citizens interested in helping No Slots for ME! stop casino gambling need to contact them right away. Today is not too soon!

Here is the list of regions (contact information follows):

Region 1 - York County (other than Sanford)
38 polling places

Region 2 - Sanford
7 polling places

Region 3 - Cumberland and Sagadahoc Counties
59 polling places

Region 4 - Androscoggin County
25 polling places

Region 5 - Franklin and Oxford Counties
19 polling places

Region 6 - Somerset and Kennebec Counties
43 polling places

Region 7 - Lincoln and Knox Counties
30 polling places

Region 8 - Waldo and Penobscot (south of Dexter/Enfield) Counties
33 polling places

Region 9 - Hancock County
22 polling places

Region 10 - Aroostook, Piscataquis, Washington and Northern Penobscot Counties
23 polling places

If you are able to help in any of these regions please email Doug today at dwmuir@mailaps.org or you can call the Vice President of No Slots for ME! P.A.C., Mr. Fred Kilfoil, at 1-207-899-4271

The Christian Civic League of Maine is supporting the No Slots for ME! effort to stop slot maching gambling.