Retired Sr. Project Manger Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet.
The Herald Leader published an article by Patrick Neely, Chief Lobbyist for Kentucky Equine Education, KEEP on Monday April 27,
In the article Mr. Neely pointed out the gross income from video terminal lotteries. These statements are attributed to the Gaming Industry survey as they are the very people who support the Gaming Industry.
It appears Mr. Neely is using much larger income figures, from gambling to make the case for KEEP. This is typical LOBBY POSTURE.
The claim is when KENTUCKY has income from harmless gambling this will prevent the state of Kentucky from having to raise other taxes. Some of which have already been done by our General Assembly, booze and cigarettes, the sin tax are already paying much more taxes.
FACT. Every state that has passed gambling has been required to raise other taxes due to the revenue shortfall and expense of the social ills associated with gambling. (Google it)
FACT: IN Maryland the cost of the state dealing with the social ills of gambling is over two billion dollars. (Goggle it)
FACT: For Maryland, if it is typical of the national profile, pathological gamblers cost its citizens about $1.5 billion in 1988 ($2.09 billion in 1998), ceteris paribus. This cost estimate is considered conservative because we have not included costs such as suicide attempts, family neglect, and incarceration or other health problems resulting from pathological Gambling.
FACT: The amount of jobs and economic impact from gambling is grossly exaggerated and misstated. Mr. Neely writes of the WINDFALL from construction and infra structure. What infrastructure? Race Tracks already exist. The people that win here are the manufacturers of SLOTS and the RACINOS. Kentucky is represented by a Kentucky Lobby who is pushing for its passage, because that means mega bucks for his client.
Can you imagine the profit in selling several thousand new slot machines?
FACT: Suicide rate, among children impacted by a pathological gambler in the family, increases. This increase is over three percent more suicides for children when expanded gambling comes to town. (Google it)
FACT: Nationwide three to four percent of the population participates in gambling. Kentucky now has over thirty thousand addicted gamblers. If Kentucky expands gambling, (video terminal lottery machines) that number will increase to over sixty thousand in five years. Add the present level of gambling addiction and over one hundred Kentucky families are going to be blind sided and become gambling addicts.
FACT: The New England Journal of Medicine, one of America’s most respected medical journals states: GAMBLING IS THE NUMBER ONE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE IN THE UNITED STATES. Read it again. Gambling is the number one mental health issue in the United States.
FACT: Today’s SLOT MACHINES, which have been given alluded dignity, as VIDEO TERMINAL LOTTERIES are much more difficult to cash in than the SLOT MACHIENS of old. The odds now factor the owners of the SLOT MACINES even more. More than eighty percent of the income from gambling comes from types of gambling fastest to addict players.
FACT: Slots are NUMBER ONE. AKA . . . VIDEO TERMINAL LOTTERIES.
Mr. Neely’s plea is GAMBLING WILL ASSURE KENTUCKY WILL NOT LOOSE ITS ICON IDENTITY OF HORSE RACING.
FACT: Horse Racing in Kentucky is not going away. Nether is Kentucky Bourbon or the Kentucky Derby or the Bluegrass Stakes and Derby Pie. This plea comes from an over kill by Mr. Neely to frighten citizens into thinking his way.
FACT: There are too many Thoroughbred Horses. When the fallout is over, Kentucky will still lead the nation in Thoroughbred Breeding and THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY will always be a day of INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR KENTUCKY. There may not be as many players, but THE SHOW WILL GO ON.
Shame on your Mr. Neely for trying to mislead our citizens, for your own personal agenda.
