People Against a Casino Town
News from PACT
 
We, the People ...
We are your constituents. 

We are caring, concerned citizens of the
United States of America. 

We are asking you, as our representative, to support a moratorium on all new public and private sector gambling until the recommendations of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission - Final Report are fully authorized and funded. A moratorium on gambling expansion can be accomplished through federal, state, local and tribal governmental policies.  All of the recommendations by the NGISC are contained in the Final Report. 

As stated by the NGIS Commission: 

"Policymakers and the public should seek a comprehensive evaluation of gambling’s impact so far, and of the implications of future decisions to expand gambling. In fact, state and local versions of this Commission may be an appropriate mechanism to oversee such research. If such groups are formed they will find as did the Commission that the search for answers takes time. Therefore, some policymakers at every level may wish to impose an explicit moratorium on gambling expansion while awaiting further research and assessment."

A summary of the recommendations for research is provided below. Whatever regulatory or policy mechanism is ultimately used, you, as our representative, can support our effort to put the brakes on gambling expansion - at all levels of government -  until appropriate studies and research are completed - and we all have a clear idea of the true cost of gambling on our nation, our communities, our families. 

I look forward to hearing from you about what actions you will be taking to support a moratorium on gambling expansion within your jurisdiction.

Thank you,

(Name and Address)

NGISC Report - Summary of Recommendations re: Future Research

1.  Congress encourage the National Institutes of Health to convene a multi-disciplinary advisory panel to establish a framework for research on problem gambling.

2.  Congress direct the appropriate national agencies (health, justice, labor, etc.) to add gambling components to appropriate surveys and research..

3.  Congress direct the appropriate national agency to research the effect gambling has on property and/or violent crime rates.

4.  Congress direct the Department of Labor or other appropriate agency to research job quality in the gambling industry.

5.  Congress direct the appropriate national agency to determine the effectiveness of a ban on Internet gambling.

6.  States and tribal governments authorize and fund an objective study of problem gambling every two years.  And that both authorize and fund research and treatment programs for problem gamblers.  And that both agree, as a condition of any granting of authority to operate a gambling facility, to fully cooperate in any research needed by the state to fulfill the legislative intent of the federal and state policies.

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