Letter: Gambling is bad for the community
Published: November 8, 2009
I was away from Dothan for three weeks and had my papers held. As a result, I had an overdose of front-page coverage of Country Crossing as I reviewed those I had missed and the ones I am receiving daily.
On the television, I find gambling on the Travel Channel and the sports channels, and now my local paper has added to the Lotto number listing that was on the second page to give front-page coverage daily to our future casino.
When I was a student at Auburn University in the 1950s, Phenix City was the den of gambling and prostitution, and it took the murder of future governor John Patterson’s father for people to say, “Enough is enough.”
Now our legislators are willing to sit on their hands while gambling proliferates, and I fear for our state. The media are complacent to the gambling interest, and this state could become another Nevada.
When one of your close friends gets so caught up in gambling that you get a first-hand look at the devastation it causes to family and friends, then you understand why it is not in the best interest of our community to promote this type of activity.
Bring on the wholesome family entertainment and the country music venues, but leave off the destructive element of gambling for the sake of our community’s future.
Powell Brewton
Dothan
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Reader Reactions
I dont care if they make gambling legal or not. I do believe it will help the local economy.Only individuals that is may bring harm to would only bring that harm due to their lack of self restraint. People that are objecting to gambling, based on individuals wasting their paycheck, are basically saying that the citizens in SE bama are so ignorant that they will lose their money gambling and resort to crime.Although i am sure their are people in that catagory , i believe most wont be spending their rent and grocery money at CC.
It really dont matter what any of us think. CC will be opening and i doubt anyone at this point can prevent it.
TTOM & James, you guys make sense and I think you both are open minded (either for or not)with your statements. Crime is on the increase as is unemployment and not looking very nice. I will say one thing, Country Crossing has sure brought some things to the top. I wonder why when Victoryland has been let run legal and big with a huge new hotel. Some of this seems to be only CC and attacking what could become a big country complex with something everyone could enjoy and reap some rewards. Why only CC and not the other 4 Indian casino’s. I do think some money (and I have no facts, just a gut feeling) that lots of money has filtered into Montgomery and if the Indians are the only ones opening casino’s that is wrong. The whole trouble is certain places have been let run and now CC is set to step on some toes and do some good, but CC will not even cut into the other Casino’s. My wife and I go some and each time the crowd is bigger along with the casino, Wetumpka has just added another wing full of slots (I’m sorry, machine bingo) and some times you can’t hardly find a machine to play. I think live and let live as we all will answer to higher power someday and I doubt machine bingo will come into play. Does anyone know how much money is bet with bookies right here every week end on just Bama and Auburn let alone the NFL? Gambling is and always has been a way of life for those who wish to do so.
ttom , the fact is that crime is increasing in most every major city . No matter if gambling is legal or not . So how can you determine if crime would have increased more or less in a city once gambling became legal ? Show us your dissertation on the subject if you feel you have stated a fact instead of an opinion.
James, You obviously are clueless one. I didn’t say that Las Vegas or Atlantic City was in the top 10 cities for crime- - I said if you look it up the crime in these cities are through the roof and it is (along with Detroit, Atlanta, Los Angeles) My point being…if anyone wants to document it and can get correct stats from the sheriffs dept and wants to track it you WILL see a steady increase in crime. Like i said earlier-bring it to a vote and either pass it or do away with it. And by the way twentyone If it passes enjoy your steak.
James is right on the money, many people talking without the facts, facts are as employment goes up crime goes down, Atlantic City, Vegas and Biloxi all well below Detroit (high unemployment) Atlanta are just a couple. Bingo is legal in Alabama either paper or machine so either vote and cancel it or live it and lets move along. Country Crossing will bring jobs and benefits in a time we need it. Can’t wait to go have some fun (maybe even win as we do sometimes at the other five casino’s) have a nice steak and listen to some good music and just have a day of fun.
ttom , you dont have a clue what your talking about . I looked it up and las vegas isnt even in the top 10 for crime. Atlanta , detroit and many others are the ones listed in the top ten. Maybe you should do the research BEFORE you make a comment.
In response to je ray’s comment about me posting the stats. All you have to do is get online and seach for crime rate statistics and seach any city with gambling (Las Vegas, Atlantic City) and you’ll see crime is through the roof. Please keep in mind I’m not trying to compare Country Crossing to Vegas or Atlantic City I’m just trying to make a point - -where there is gambling—there is crime—That’s the bottom line. Also I’m in aggreement with guru - the whole idea of gambling in the state of Alabama need to come to a vote; if it’s voted in then let every podunk service station, & bar have electronic bingo (slot machines) and if it’s voted down - then close them all down including Victory Land and the Indian gaming halls. The bible says “let your yeas be your yeas and your nays be your nays”
In regards to guru’s comment. (walk like a duck..) with that logic we need to close all of the chuck-e-cheeses down. You buy you kids tokens and based on luck/skill you get a reward to redeem for a prize. That seems a backwards as not letting adults decide for themselves!
My grandmother was addicted to gambling. This “disease” as the professionals call it, did not make her life better, at all. In fact, she also suffered from strong depression over it as well. And I won’t even begin to discuss how she never had anything of material value in her home, or her car. I think this community it better off without slot machines, period. I’ve been to Biloxi, and I don’t care to live there, ever. If you want to live there, move there please and let us have our peace here!
We need to vote on it. Then we need to decide what gambling we will have. I am for a lottery only to benefit education. It galls me that we mull around while the AL Supreme Court spends it’s time defining bingo. Look, if you deposit a monetary unit, knowing you cannot retrieve it but hoping instead for monetary gain through cunning or luck, YOU ARE GAMBLING. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…..If we are truly a democratic republic, let us vote. If we do not establish gambling commissions and set the rules now, they will be set for us. P.S. If they delay the vote until 2012, it will be another Democratic sweep with young voters and minorities carrying the election. But hey, if they show up, they should carry it.
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