Dr. Zabilka's presentation included the following observations on proposals to introduce VLTs and casinos in Kentucky and on an event that led him to become a passionate opponent of gambling in all its forms. They are reproduced here from his publication The Gambling Notepad. Related material and links follow.

There are a number of reasons I oppose the introduction of VLTs at the tracks, or state authorized casinos. The first reason is that since electronic slot machines and VLTs are nearly identical and can be programmed to play the same games, with VLTs only marginally slower because networked, they are in essence the same thing. Since slot machines are the quickest means of parting a gambler from his money, the pace of losing is greatly accelerated over the present forms of gambling that exist in the state.

Slots at the tracks through changes in the law is a rather strange role for the government to play while the uniform role of government has been to regulate business for the protection of the citizens, there have been no laws passed designed solely for the purpose of increasing the profits of a certain business, regardless of the well being of the citizens.

A third reason to oppose VLTs is the deceptive "studies" done by gambling interests. They consistently tell half the story, namely that they will bring jobs, or development or revenues. While that is true, they also bring social and economic costs which have been extensively documented by university and other researchers who are not financed by the gambling interests. While it remains true that these costs are more difficult to pinpoint, it has been done. Among these costs are bankruptcy, tax fraud, loan and credit card fraud, embezzlement, assault, theft, child and spousal abuse, investigatory, judiciary and penal costs, overloading of infrastructure, payment default, loss of business and several others. Various studies have placed the costs from equal to revenues to three times revenues.

Fourthly, this action will target the poorest among our population for additional loses. At present, Kentuckians must travel a minimum of 15 miles to an out of state casino. The poorest 20% or our population, especially those with family incomes below $10,000, seldom have personal transportation, and are not frequent casino visitors. The placing of slots in our cities, near the urban poor is clearly a case of targeting or drawing them into gambling they can ill afford. This seems a sure way to deepen poverty in Kentucky in order to enrich some of the wealthiest corporations or state revenues. Consideration of this is repulsive to anyone who cares about the plight or the poor. Casino gambling is frequently recreation for the middle and upper economic classes, but it is the loss of one or more of the basics of life for the poor.

A fifth reason to oppose slots in any form is addiction. The gambling interests admit that addiction is their vulnerable point, but they marginalize the problem and emphasize the revenues. The National Gambling Impact Study Commission found that the current rate of problem gambling is 5.4% with about one fourth of that pathological or addicted gamblers. A total of 15% of the population will fall into problem or addictive gambling during their lifetime. The fruit of addiction is divorce, debt, isolation, depression and occasionally suicide. One finds it hard to comprehend why we would want to introduce a business into our state that causes personal tragedy for one in twenty of its customers, just for the sake of money the tracks and state do not need.

Introducing slots into the state shouts a message that dollars are precious and people are expendable. The truth is that dollars are expendable and people are precious. There is not a single child who will go hungry, or single battered wife, or the destruction of a single life that is worth this kind of accelerated gambling revenue.

Dr. Zabilka is on the steering comittee of the recently formed Citizens Against Gambling Expansion (CAGE). CAGE is a broadly based group of citizens and organizations who share a conviction that expanded gambling in the Commonwealth of Kentucky should not be allowed. Begun by a group of religious organizations, churches, and public interest groups, along with other interested citizens, CAGE intends to be non-sectarian and open to any group or individual who wishes to become part of the movement to prevent gambling expansion in Kentucky.

The Kentucky Council of Churches acted on recent developments in Kentucky with the following statement:

Whereas the Kentucky General Assembly has adopted legislation which requires that all lottery income now be committed to a scholarship program to help Kentucky high school graduates attend a college or university in the Commonwealth; and

Whereas the Kentucky Lottery is facing increasing competition from Indiana riverboats and other forms of gambling, and current lottery income has been flat or decreasing in recent years; and Whereas it appears likely that the Kentucky Lottery Corporation will attempt to have legislation enacted in the 2000 regular session of the Kentucky General Assembly to allow the operation of such electronic forms of "convenience gambling" such as video lottery terminals (a euphemism for a lottery-operated slot machine); video poker machines; and video keno, in order to increase revenues to support the now popular idea of scholarships for Kentucky's young people; and

Whereas it has been demonstrated in numerous studies that such electronic gambling is the most addictive form of gambling, and is especially attractive to the young; and

Whereas thoroughbred race tracks are attempting to expand their market and to attract new gamblers through the establishment of off-track-betting parlors without local approval; and

Whereas Keeneland Race Track, Dreamport, Inc. (Harrah's Casinos, which owns the "Glory of Rome" / Caesar's-Indiana riverboat opposite Louisville); and G-Tech (the corporation which has the lottery franchise for the Commonwealth of Kentucky), have formed a partnership to purchase Turfway Race Course, whose previous owner and CEO were among the most vigorous advocates for gambling casinos at race tracks; and

Whereas Keeneland has now softened its position of opposition to gambling casinos, and has stated that Keeneland now believes that "the people of Kentucky" should decide about future gambling; and

Whereas Governor Paul Patton has said that he would support a referendum on this issue;

Therefore, be it hereby resolved, that the Kentucky Council of Churches will oppose the expansion of gambling opportunities in the Commonwealth, whether by the Kentucky Lottery Corporation, or by the thoroughbred racing industry, which will include the use of:

• video lottery terminals (VLTs)
• video keno machines
• video poker machines
• slot machines and other kinds of electronic gambling machines;
• casino style operations;
• off-track betting parlors established without local approval.

Further, the Kentucky Council of Churches shall work vigorously with such other partners in a coalition to oppose enabling legislation for the Lottery Corporation, and/or a state-wide referendum on any gambling expansion as defined above.

Presbyterian General Assemblies have issued many statements on gambling over the years. Three are reproduced here.

The short 1935 statement reflects the same concerns that are felt today. The 1994 statement lays out today's concerns in considerable detail. The 1996 statement calls for a study of the scriptural, theological, historical, economic, and sociological background of gambling. This study is underway and the results are expected to be presented to the General Assembly in 2000.

1935 - PCUSA

We look with deep concern upon the growing sentiment in favor of legalized gambling in all its forms, and the indifference of church people toward the ill effects of gambling as a social practice. We hereby call upon the members of our churches to reappraise the social problem in the light of the Gospel of Christ.

1994 - PC(USA)

Whereas, the legalization of gambling is spreading across the United States of America, with many additional states, counties, and cities currently considering legalizing casino and other forms of gambling (i.e., Pennsylvania, Missouri, Chicago, etc.); and

Whereas, much of the public, including the church and many public officials, does not seem to be knowledgeable of the massive negative economic, social, political, and spiritual effects of legalized gambling and its real costs to us all, and are not standing in the way of legalizing more gambling; and

Whereas, the legalization proposals are not the result of movements based on popularity, but rather seem to be promoted by certain public officials and gambling industry companies and their interests; and

Whereas, legalized gambling has negatively affected the overall quality of life and has cost billions of dollars in communities and entire states (New Jersey, for instance, recently had its largest tax increase ever); and

Whereas, we value, as the Christian church, life and the healthy development of communities where friendship, health, love, creativity, safety, productivity, and spirituality are encouraged; and

Whereas, the spirit of legalized gambling is in direct opposition to the Spirit of Jesus the Christ, our savior and leader who taught us to love one another, to share our resources with one another, to work for the good of all in God's name, and to value the soul far more highly than money; and

Whereas, government is supposed to protect people and the common good, rather than develop a public policy of "gambling on gambling" in hopes of increasing revenues without regard to the real social, moral, spiritual, economic, political, and governmental costs attached; and

Whereas, gambling preys upon people's weakness and greed, especially exploiting the poor and minorities by seducing them out of disproportionate amounts of their income; and

Whereas, experience and studies indicate that the legalization of gambling negatively affects the quality of life, creating major economic and social costs and many negative impacts on communities, local businesses, and individuals, as casinos function as sinkholes sucking money out of the general economy of a region; and

Whereas, local businesses suffer as the self-contained gambling industry takes both customers and spending money away; and

Whereas, jobs are lost in other sectors of the economy, making the net effect on jobs creation either null or a loss; and

Whereas, individuals, families, and communities suffer when income is spent on gambling and a self-serving attitude to get rich quick at others' expense is publicly promoted; and

Whereas, local crime, organized crime, and illegal gambling generally increase; and

Whereas, government repeatedly pays out more on criminal justice, social welfare, and infrastructure than it might gain through tax revenues; and

Whereas, gambling addition (affecting 3 to 5 percent of adults and 5 to 11 percent of teenagers in the United States) tears apart, not only the addicted person, but countless others whom that person's life touches; and

Whereas, gambling is not only an addiction for persons, but also seems to become a dependency for governments with the legalization of one form of gambling making future forms and its spread hard to control; and

Whereas, the gambling industry has the extraction of money down to a science, from stacking the odds to manipulating the casino's atmosphere in order to extract as much money as possible from customers; and

Whereas, gambling proponents are promoting gambling as the salvation for people's woes, promoting belief in a false hope, with the legalization of gambling functioning in effect as a diabolical and false Christ; and

Whereas, citizens and government officials in the United States of America need to be educated and convinced about the many negative consequences of legalized gambling and of strong public opposition to it in order for gambling to be illegal; and

Whereas, the General Assembly has historically voted in opposition to gambling, as early in this century as 1936 and as recently as 1992;

Therefore, the 206th General Assembly 1994) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):

1. reaffirms its opposition to legalized gambling;
2. encourages consistent and creative work at economic redevelopment, with social and spiritual concern for the common good;
3. states its opposition in letters to the President and Vice-President of the United States of America, the Attorney General of the United States of America, the governor of each state, and to the Associated Press, major newspapers, and television news stations across the country, urging public officials to oppose legalized gambling;
4. encourages its synods, presbyteries, sessions, ministers, and church members to become educated and active about this issue, its pastors to preach sermons against gambling legalization, and its synods, presbyteries, churches, ministers, and members to help educate the public in their localities and to telephone and write letters about this issue to their public officials;
5. aids synods, presbyteries, congregations, ministers, and church members in networking in research, public education, and grassroots organizing;
6. networks and joins forces with others in this effort, i.e., especially the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling; and
7. calls upon all its ministers and church members to pray fervently for God's direction and help on this critical issue.

---

1996 - PC(USA)

Whereas, there are a multiplicity of views throughout American and Christian history (with regard to the various attitudes and stances that American Presbyterians have held) related to games of chance and gambling; and

Whereas, governments, municipalities, and organizations (both nonprofit and commercial) are increasingly proposing games of chance and gambling to revive local economies and to secure increased revenues for various constituencies and services (i.e., the aged/older adults, education); and

Whereas, there is increasing evidence of the harm that gambling and attitudes supportive of gambling have had and can have on communities' values and people; and

Whereas, the upsurge of a Not in My Back Yard (NIMBY) attitude and political advocacy regarding gambling indicates only concern for property values, and not for Christian values; and

Whereas, the increase of gambling and pro-gambling referendums causes thoughtful Presbyterians to seek the guidance of the church on public policy that can have an impact upon the common good; and

Whereas, there has been no adequate study of the Reformed theology and Christian/Presbyterian thought on the issue of gambling in recent years;

Therefore, the 208th General Assembly (1996) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) directs the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy, together with the Advocacy Committees on Racial/Ethnic Concerns and on Women's Concerns and appropriate program areas of the National Ministries Division and the Congregational Ministries Division, to provide for a study process undertaken with congregations, presbyteries, and synods, as well as other individuals and constituencies, including representatives of tribal governments, which may lead to a resolution on issues related to gambling and games of chance in order to provide scriptural, theological (particularly for Reformed Christians), historical, economic, and sociological background, in order to enable thoughtful Presbyterians to answer for themselves questions relating to gambling and games of chance as related to authentic Christian behavior such as:

• What is the impact of gambling and games of chance on neighboring residential communities, racial/ethnics, the aged, and others?

• Is gambling an appropriate means to solve problems of property, economic development, government, and recreation?

The purpose of this study is to assure that future advocacy and policy by staff and individual Presbyterians are undergirded by current information; and that subsequent and necessary advocacy and Bible study materials are appropriately undergirded and enabled.