[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 44 (Thursday, March 9, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3759-S3760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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          ODDS AGAINST CONTROLLING GAMBLING FEVER IN ILLINOIS

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, recently, the Bloomington Pantagraph 
had an 
[[Page S3760]] editorial that I ask be printed the Record, commenting 
on the matter of gambling in Illinois.
  The phenomenon is not a problem only in Illinois.
  I have introduced legislation calling for a national commission to 
look at where we are going in this area and to look into its impact on 
the Nation.
  We are talking about the fastest growing industry in the United 
States, and there are obviously problems that go with that escalation.
  The Drake Law Review recently had a very extensive study of this 
question and came to the conclusion that we are harming our country.
  I hope Congress will authorize a careful look at this whole question.
  The editorial follows:

                  [From the Pantagraph, Feb. 23, 1995]

          Odds Against Controlling Gambling Fever in Illinois

       Gambling fever seems to be spreading across Illinois like a 
     prairie fire.
       Horse tracks have been around for awhile, but the state 
     broke new ground by subsidizing the rebuilding of Arlington 
     International Raceway when the original track burned.
       For those who didn't want to go to the tracks, there have 
     been plenty of bingo parlors around. And the state finally 
     got around to licensing them to make them legal.
       And there is the state lottery, where the proliferation of 
     games to lose money--with a few exceptions, of course--never 
     ceases to amaze us.
       We also have the riverboats, the floating crap games. It 
     hasn't been enough to just have the riverboats; owners have 
     chartered buses to transport gamblers from various cities.
       Oh yes, let's not forget the offtrack betting parlors that 
     have sprung up in at least a half-dozen Illinois cities.
       But there is still constant stirring in Springfield for 
     more licensed gambling--casino gambling.
       Had enough? There's more.
       The mega-raffles seem to be hitting Illinois much harder 
     this year, too.
       There's one in Bloomington-Normal now. Central Catholic 
     High School's Dream House raffle is offering a top prize of a 
     $200,000 house under construction on Bloomington's northeast 
     side. Only 2,400 tickets are being sold at $100 each.
       Sangamon County is concerned enough about such raffles that 
     it regulates them with a code. Last month, the county raised 
     the maximum for such raffles from $150,000 to $250,000. Since 
     then, a fourth ``mega-drawing'' of the year has been 
     announced in Springfield--this one for a $180,000 house to 
     benefit Big Brother/Big Sister of Sangamon County.
       Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that in that same city, 
     legislation was introduced two weeks ago to permit video 
     lottery gambling at locations licensed to conduct charitable 
     games, primarily private/social clubs.
       We haven't even mentioned the office pools or the illegal 
     bookies and tip boards in probably every major city.
       It seems rather ironic that this fever pitch for gambling 
     is often tempered because proceeds are earmarked for charity, 
     or education, or county fairs.
       We know gambling is an easy way to make a quick buck--for 
     the sponsor.
       And we haven't mentioned that a small bet for a large prize 
     can be titilating.
       But the stakes seem to be escalating. It's time Illinois 
     legislators take a more critical look at gambling--what it 
     was, what it has become, what it has done and where it is 
     going.
       Please, no more legalized gambling. We'll bet there are 
     ample opportunities to lose money now.
     

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