Other Forms of Gambling | Stop Predatory Gambling

Why Commercialized Gambling is Different Than Any Other Business

Economic Effects, Featured Updates, Form of Government-Sanctioned Gambling, Fraud, Government Revenues from Gambling, How Gambling Impacts Democratic Values, Lotteries, Lowering the Standard of Living for Ordinary Citizens, Online Gambling, Other Forms of Gambling, Regional Casinos, Sports Betting, Video

Below is the testimony of Les Bernal, National Director of Stop Predatory Gambling, before a Georgia Legislature study committee on gambling in October 2019. As part of his presentation, Bernal explains why commercialized gambling is different than any other business. A copy of Bernal’s slides can be found here.

A History of Greyhound Racing

Fact Sheets, Other Forms of Gambling

This detailed history of greyhound racing was compiled by Grey2K:

View original report

New Illinois Report: Increased access to video gambling leads to to rise in violent and property crimes in Chicago

Crime, Other Forms of Gambling, Regional Casinos, Slot Machines, Studies

An academic paper written by PhD candidates at the University of Illinois took a closer look at the expansion of video gambling machines in the state and their relation to crime.

According to the paper, “increased access to video gambling leads to a statistically significant rise in violent and property crimes in Chicago.”

North Carolina now seeing new kind of internet sweepstakes

Investigative Journalism, Other Forms of Gambling

Greensboro, NC police say a new kind of internet sweepstakes, called “fishing games” or “skill fish,” have popped up in several areas. They’re table-mounted video games that have become the targets of serious crime.

North Carolina now seeing new kind of internet sweepstakes

A summary of the instant racing debate

Fact Sheets, Other Forms of Gambling

New to the issue of instant racing machines? Read this terrific summary that details state-by-state the major debates going on around the country regarding these machines. It also gives a synopsis of what instant racing is and draws the conclusion that instant racing machines are very similar in many ways to regular slot machines.

State-by-state summary of instant racing debate

What’s it like to play an instant racing machine?

Fact Sheets, Other Forms of Gambling

Attached is a first-hand account from Debbie Blank and Pat Loonjer, both of Nebraska and both members of Stop Predatory Gambling, regarding what it’s like to play an instant racing machine- a growing trend at race tracks across the country. Gambling interests paint these machines as no different than betting on a live horse race, but reading this account shows how far that is from reality.

Field Trip to Ellis Park

Nebraska Attorney General on instant racing machines

Fact Sheets, Other Forms of Gambling

Attached is a copy of the Nebraska attorney general’s opinion regarding a bill that discusses whether or not instant racing machines are legal under the Nebraska constitution. In the end, the attorney general, Jon Bruning, concludes that, “LB 1102’s attempt to authorize wagering on the results of previously run horse races through the use of IRTs [instant racing terminals] resembling slot machines or other video gambling devices does not constitute a form of parimutuel wagering which the Legislature may permit”. In other words, according to the attorney general, under the Nebraska constitution, instant racing machines, or terminals, are not legal methods of gambling.

Nebraska attorney general opinion1

Nebraska attorney general opinion2

Maryland attorney general comes out against instant racing machines

Fact Sheets, Other Forms of Gambling

Below is a copy of the opinion of Douglas Gansler, the attorney general for the state of Maryland, wherein he explains that he does not believe instant racing machines are legal, due to the fact that they do not use pari-mutuel betting (betting against a pool rather than against the house) and are thus a form of slot machine, which is not allowed at Maryland race tracks. This opinion represents a large development because the legal arm of government has begun not to support these machines.

Maryland Attorney General Opinion

Watch an instant racing machine in action

Other Forms of Gambling, Video

Many of the gambling interests have argued that instant racing machines are similar to betting on a live horse race and that they should be allowed in states where slot machines are not because they are different than slot machines. Others argue that in practice these machines are little more than slot machines in disguise. Watch for yourself and see what you think: Does this look like a horse race or a slot machine to you?

Proposal to withdraw rules for the installation of instant racing machines

Fact Sheets, Other Forms of Gambling

This attached letter is a proposal sent to the executive director of the Texas Racing Commission, Chuck Trout, asking him to withdraw proposals for the installation of instant, or historical, racing machines. The author argues that these machines are no different than slot machines, which are banned in Texas. Also included is the patent for these machines as well as an affidavit regarding an experience with these machines.

Letter_to_Chuck_Trout