Foxwoods' Proposed Move to 8th and Market Demonstrates Momentum of Casino-Free Community

Last week, more than 100 people gathered in Center City to learn about how they could get involved in fighting state-sponsored predatory gambling — the practice of using gambling to prey on human weaknesses for profit as a method for government to raise money for public services.

This week, we received word that Foxwoods casino, previously proposed first for South Philadelphia and then for the Gallery at Market East, is now considering a new site even closer to Independence Mall, at 8th & Market Streets in the old Strawbridge & Clothier department store.

That casino backers are now looking at such a move shows that momentum is on our side.

“Serious momentum has been gaining against Foxwoods and SugarHouse for some time now, no matter where they try to go. It will only grow with time as more and more people learn the true costs of predatory gambling,” said Casino-Free founder Jethro Heiko today.

8th & Market Streets, Philadelphia(Flickr user tilaneseven) Foxwoods, like SugarHouse casino, continues to refuse to solicit public input or take place in a transparent planning process. With this new site just one block from the Declaration House — where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence — the site also exposes a desperate siting strategy that not only disregards Philadelphia's historic legacy but fails to admit that no proper location exists for predatory gambling — anywhere.

Our next town hall will be on March 18 in the Riverwards. Check out our announcement video, and please share it with your friends!

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