Free drinks!

February 27th, 2009 at 05:10pm Wally Haas

Illinois Churches in Action warns that there are 100 measures in the general assembly that deal with gambling. One the group is worried about is a proposal to allow Illinois’ floating casinos to serve free drinks. I didn’t know they couldn’t. Here’s the press released I received.

Gambling Action Alert

HB 2522 – Free Alcoholic Drinks at Casinos – in Committee next week

            Next Wednesday, March 4, HB 2522 will be heard in the House Executive Committee.  This legislation will allow Illinois Riverboat Casinos to serve FREE alcoholic drinks to gamblers. 

            Many of the Illinois casinos are located in densely populated areas.  Giving free alcohol to gamblers will impact public safety when local people drive home impaired.  Drinking alcohol lessens inhibitions, impairs a person’s ability to think clearly, and makes people more likely to take changes when gambling. 

HB 2522 encourages gamblers with alcohol abuse problems to continue drinking and gambling.  Studies have found that adults with an alcohol addiction are 23 times more likely to have a gambling problem than those who do not drink. (Journal of Studies of Alcohol, Dec. 2001).  A study conducted by professors from the University of Western Australia found that after three alcoholic drinks, one group spent twice as long gambling as those who did not drink.   Half of the drinking group only stopped gambling when they had lost everything.  In contrast, only 15 percent of the non-drinking group lost all their money.   (The Globe Magazine, Issue 3, 1998). 

For Immediate Action

1. If your State Representative is on the House Executive Committee (see below), call to share this information and ask him/her to vote NO on HB 2522. 
2. Write a Letter to the Editor using the information above. 
3. Share this Action Alert with your church or synagogue.
4. Forward to 10 others. 

Members of the House Executive Committee

Rep. Dan Burke, Chairman (D-Dist. 23, Chicago)     773-471-2299  or 217-782-1117        

Rep. Edward Accevedo (D-Dist. 2, Chicago)                        773-843-1500 or 217-782-2855

Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Dist. 3, Chicago)                      773-637-2000 or 217-782-0480

Rep. Maria “Toni” Berrios (D-Dist. 39, Chicago)      773-235-3939 or 217-558-1032

Rep. Bob Biggins (R- Dist. 41, Elmhurst)                  630-941-1278 or 217-782-6578

Rep. Dan Brady (R-Dist. 88, Bloomington)               309-662-1100 or 217-782-1118

Rep. Joseph Lyons (D-Dist. 19, Chicago)                  773-286-1115 or 217-782-8400

Rep. Robert Rita (D-Dist. 28, Blue Island)                708-396-2822 or 217-558-1000

Rep. Ed Sullivan (R-Dist. 51, Mundelien)                 847-566-5115 or 217-782-3696

Rep. Michael Tryon (R-Dist. 64, Crystal Lake)          815-459-6453 or 217-782-0432

Rep. Art Turner (D-Dist. 9, Chicago)                         773-277-4700 or 217-782-8116

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