John Cody reporting
CHICAGO (WBBM) – A coalition of prominent religious leaders is launching a campaign to keep video poker out of Illinois and particularly out of Chicago.
The Rev. Phillip Blackwell, Senior Pastor of downtown Chicago’s Methodist Temple, described a Harvard University tudy showing a 10 percent crime increase in neighborhoods where video poker machines are brought in.
He added: “We deeply care about the quality of our city institutions and do not want to see them ruined by the introduction of video poker machines,” which he described as the most addictive form of gambling. He described it as “the crack cocaine of gambling.”
The interfaith group is calling for a moratorium on video gambling. They want Gov. Pat Quinn to prepare a state budget that contains no expectations of video poker revenue. They’re also asking for the gambling board to call a moratorium on video gambling expansion until public hearings are held.
The group is asking that every Chicago alderman hold hearings to let ward residents vote on the idea of video poker in their ward.
The Rev. Blackwell estimated that Chicago’s downtown 42nd Ward alone could end up with more than 2,000 video poker machines which, he says, is the same number of gambling positions at two giant river boat casinos. He said the 42nd Ward doesn’t need video gambling, and the city doesn’t need it.
The interfaith group is calling for a moratorium on video gambling which has been legalized in Illinois. But 65 communities and four counties including Cook County have enacted a ban on the machines.
Chicago also has a ban on video gambling machines but the Rev. Blackwell says it’s possible some City Council members are looking to reverse that ordinance.
Among those also attending the Tuesday morning announcement of the anti-video poker drive:
- Rev. John Buchanan, pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church
- Rev, Joy Rogers, dean of Saint James Episcopal cathedral
- Father Dan Mayall, pastor of Holy Name Cathedral
- Rev. Tom Grey, director of Illinois Stop Predatory Gambling
- Ald. Joe Moore (49th Ward)
Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.
Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services