The Chicago Crime Commission recently expressed its concerns on video gambling with the Illinois Gaming Board. The Commission contends that Illinois will be left with the untenable task of attempting to regulate an industry that by its very nature defies regulation.
They also warned that the long-term cost to society would far outweigh any short-term revenue gains if video gambling machines were installed. The Chicago Crime Commission comments came at an Illinois Gaming Board hearing to discuss proposed emergency rules for video gambling in Illinois.
“The decentralized nature of video gambling may soon turn Illinois into the ‘Wild West’ of gambling,” said J.R. Davis, Chairman of the Chicago Crime Commission.
“Its an unfortunate reality, but the concerns and dangers associated with video gambling cannot or will not be fully addressed in the Illinois Gaming Board rule making. Law enforcement and other regulators would be left with a virtually uncontrollable situation.” he added.
“Video gambling has been called the crack cocaine of gaming for good reason. With the proliferation of video gambling, communities can expect to experience an increase in crime and a rise in other social ills connected with gambling expansion,” he continued.
According to legislative analysis, about 45,000 video gambling machines may soon be scattered throughout communities in Illinois.
While a law enforcement needs analysis is currently non-existent, Davis estimates Illinois will soon have to hire hundreds of new police and regulatory personnel to begin addressing the law enforcement requirement of this gambling expansion.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t heard anyone address this reality or speak to how these needs will be met,” said Davis.
Davis also expressed concern that it would be difficult if not impossible to curb the influence of organized crime in this new, tough to regulate enterprise. “It is a fact that organized crime is known to gravitate towards gambling and other ancillary businesses,” he continued.
Additionally, Davis said that the state’s self exclusion program, which prohibits problem gamblers from entering casinos, would be left hobbled if video gambling proliferates in Illinois.
“I have significant concern that entire families will be left penniless because Mom or Dad will be feeding their entire paycheck into the video poker machines,” he concluded.
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