Anti-Casino Activists from Philadelphia and Across the US to Protest Inside Harrah's Chester, PA Casino on June 6

For Immediate Release

On Saturday, June 6, opponents of casino gambling will go inside a slots parlor to take action on the casino's own turf. Advocates at the event, called Beat the House, will work in teams to demonstrate how the marketing of slots results in the cultivation of out-of-control gamblers, on whose backs the industry thrives. Anti-casino activists will also conduct a colorful and noisy picket outside the casino, Harrah's Chester Casino.

The effort to build two casinos in Philadelphia is the tip of the spear in the industry campaign to put casinos in major American cities. If they are successful, Philadelphia would be the largest city with casinos. The industry is also targeting other major cities like Pittsburgh and Chicago, as well as locations in Massachusetts and Maryland. "Philadelphia would instantly become the leader in this nationwide race to the bottom," said founder of Casino-Free Philadelphia, Jethro Heiko. "That's why representatives like Les Bernal, from the national group StopPredatoryGambling.org, and Bruce Bannon from NoDice in Pittsburgh are joining us."

The parlors remain open 24 hours a day, offer onsite check cashing, and maintain ATMs only a few steps from the slots machines, all to allow customers to drain their last savings, or "gamble to extinction," in the parlance of the industry. Even bars in the state are not open 24 hours a day. "These machines are a delivery device of addiction," said Heiko. An oft-stated rule in the industry is that 80% of business comes from 20% of customers -- addicted and problem gamblers.

These predatory casinos also draw money away from local businesses. For instance, more than 70 percent of businesses in Natchez, Mississippi, reported declining sales within a few months of the opening of that city's first riverboat casino. The number of independent restaurants in Atlantic City dropped from 48 the year casinos opened -- to only 16 in 1997. Within just four years of the casinos' arrival, one-third of the city's retail businesses had closed.

Casino-Free Philadelphia has produced a report, "You Pay Even if You Don't Play," which shows that considering criminal justice costs and lost wages in local businesses, among other costs, putting two slot parlors in Philadelphia would result in the City suffering a net loss of at least $52 million each year. Casino-Free Philadelpha has also compiled fact sheets on the effects of casinos and gambling on the poor, local businesses and other groups.

Studies show that for every one job gained through a casino, three are lost.

The tactics used by advocates at Beat the House can be replicated at any slots parlors, and Casino-Free Philadelphia hopes that Saturday's action can help motivate similar actions elsewhere. For years, investors of SugarHouse and Foxwoods have been trying to forcefully insert their proposed slots parlors into Philadelphia communities. As of Saturday, those investors will be put on notice that the people of Philadelphia are mobilizing direct actions to protect their beloved city. Casino-Free Philadelphia and its allies are determined to fight any and all expansion attempts by the casino industry.

The casino companies have enlisted the support of prominent politicians and investors in Pennsylvania, but Beat the House will shine a bright light on the state-sponsored predatory gambling trade. "The benefits of casinos can never outweigh the social and economic costs imposed by an industry that relies on addiction to survive," said Heiko.

"We're sending two messages on June 6," said Lily Cavanagh, Beat the House organizer with Casino-Free Philadelphia. "A message of defiance to the predatory gambling trade, and a message of support to Philadelphians who want to keep slot parlors out of their city."

Beat the House and its actions are part of an ongoing call for better decision-making for the city. "We're proud of our communities," said Casino-Free organizer Ivan Boothe, "so we demand good leadership, planning, and services for them. This doesn't include casinos and never will."

Background

Harrah's is leading purveyor of "convenience casinos" with 2/3 of profits coming from slot machines, and the vast majority of its slots profits coming from a very small percentage of its gamblers. Some of Harrah's success rests on a marketing model founded on its "Total Rewards" frequent-gambler card, a device that comprehensively tracks an individual's gambling activity and urges them to gamble more. In the industry's own language, this "Pavolovian approach" encourages gamblers to 'play until extinction" -- until they have no money left.

There is an easy way to determine the exact percentage of patrons who are addicted or problem gamblers. Through its loyalty card program, the slots parlor (such as Harrah's Chester) keeps detailed records on how often any particular gambler visits the casino, which machines they play, and most importantly, how quickly the gambler presses the button. The gamblers who press the button at very high rates of speed -- those are the addicts and the problem gamblers. We invite the media to demand that Harrah's release its database showing all of this information except for the name, address or identity of the gamblers (but including the zip code). Why shouldn't the public have access to this information. Who could it hurt?

Our opposition is a response to a national problem. Casinos have expanded drastically as casino owners look for new markets and state and local governments look for a free lunch. State-sponsored gambling has already put in operation close to 800,000 slot machines and video poker games -- one machine for every 395 Americans.

Casino-Free Philadelphia's mission is to stop casinos from coming to Philadelphia and close any that open. The benefits of casinos can never outweigh the social and economic costs from an industry reliant on addiction to survive. Visit us online at www.CasinoFreePhila.org.

###