FACTS














Facts
  

IT'S NEVER A DONE DEAL

"Done Deal - Those two words have been used to immobilize countless communities
across the country," said Tom Grey, Executive Director of the
National Coalition Against Gambling. Grey, who is working closely with PACT, was in Florence on May 8, 2003. He knows the situation here.
He has successfully fought casinos across the nation.
He went on to say,

"It's never a done deal unless you surrender your community."

 

Addiction
"The single most important reason legal gambling has become so incredibly profitable and popular ... is computerized video technology. This technology has produced the most addictive form of gambling in history: video gambling. For this reason, some people call video lottery terminals (VLTs) - video slots, poker, keno, and other games - the 'crack cocaine' of gambling."

Background
1997 - "At this time, the site is being acquired for historic and cultural purposes and we envision that the land will become an important destination for tribal members wishing to remember history and Indian existence. "
2003 - "The tribes have always intended to pursue gaming on this tract of land that borders the town of Florence, Oregon."

Control
Over and over again, across the nation -- every time a casino threatens a community -- government officials and local businesses are lulled into complacency because they believe that through good-faith negotiation with tribes, they can secure appropriate safeguards for their towns and enterprises. As is illustrated by the experiences of communities who have "been there," nothing could be further from the truth.

Children
While children are normally not allowed on the gaming floor, some casinos actually provide gambling-like "entertainment" for children. Casinos often provide other areas where parents and grandparents can drop off their children while they gamble. Far too many leave their children in cars or dangerous situations - sometimes with disasterous results.

Crime
Crime rates are approximately 8% higher in counties with casinos at least four years old. Crime rates in casino communities are 84% higher than the national average.

Economic Impact
Some have said a casino is good for the economy of a town. It is hard to see how this has been the case for three casino towns in Oregon, all of whom have had casinos since 1995. In 2000, Florence had a lower unemployment rate and fewer families living below the poverty level. Since 1990, Florence has consistently experienced higher population growth rates than any of the three Oregon casino towns surveyed.
Casino developers almost universally justify their predatory practices with claims that tribes "need" gambling to raise their standard of living fall short of the facts - tribes without casinos are doing almost as well financially as those who have imposed casinos on surrounding communities.

Jobs
The majority of jobs at casinos pay between $8 and $13 per hour. Most are not full time (40 hours per week). Normally, only full time employees receive benefits such as health insurance, sick leave, vacation, etc.

Local Benefit
In Florence, Oregon, the casino "benefit fund" will start at 2% of their profit, it will be split between five counties: Coos, Curry, Lane, Douglas, and Lincoln Counties, and the tribe will determine who will receive the 'benefit', and when.

Local Concerns
“We do not believe that a tribal gaming facility which is designed to create losers can make Florence residents winners. ... it is important for the BIA and tribal officials to know that a significant segment of the community does not want to see a gaming facility of this type here, and likely, that segment constitutes a significant majority."

Politics
The depth and breadth of the influence by casino profits on our political system is nothing less than astounding.

Seniors
We suspect that casino supporters may persist in saying that the casino merely provides fun and games. To that claim we say, who is having the fun, and who is playing the games? And who is being made to pay the lasting costs for these fun and games?

Social Costs
Estimated annual costs of problem gambling to Florence, Oregon, with a casino: $996,577 per year. The gambling moguls, who fully understand the havoc created by their industry, continue to boast of Las Vegas as a wonderland of close family life, of good jobs, wonderful tourism, excitement and a great life for its residents. Consider these documented facts about Nevada.

Sovereign Land
Controversies surrounding tribal sovereignty are still being defined in the courts. Until the issue is settled, we can't know for certain what will happen in Florence. Can anyone really enforce agreements or contracts with a sovereign nation? If the casino's sewage pollutes the Siuslaw River, can anyone stop it? If the casino's wells draw too much water and dry up the city’s wells, can anyone do anything about it? These very conflicts have already happened elsewhere in the nation - with unsatisfactory outcomes for surrounding community members.

Suicide
According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, approximately one in five pathological gamblers attempts suicide. The Council further notes that the suicide rate among pathological gamblers is higher than for any other addictive disorder. A survey of nearly 400 Gamblers Anonymous members revealed that two-thirds had contemplated suicide, 47 percent had a definite plan to kill themselves, and 77 percent stated that they have wanted to die.

Traffic
Lane County Sheriff, Jan Clements: "He said some of his concerns about it [casino] were increases in problems with driving under the influence of intoxicants and traffic" "I have concerns about the level of activity and traffic is first and foremost among those ... And I suspect they will serve alcohol somewhere on the casino property which could increase the volume of prospective inebriated driver.

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Links:

  


P.O. Box 978
Florence, Oregon 97439
e-mail: info@pactoregon.org

  

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