Law enforcement would be left with uncontrollable situation

CHICAGO, May 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Chicago Crime Commission asked Governor Pat Quinn to reject plans to legalize video gambling machines in Illinois. They warned that the long-term cost to society would far outweigh any short-term revenue gains if video gambling machines are legalized in Illinois. Law enforcement and other regulators would be left with a virtually uncontrollable situation.

The decentralized nature of video gambling would turn Illinois into the 'wild west' of gambling," said J.R. Davis, Chairman of the Chicago Crime Commission. "According to legislative analysis, about 66,000 video gambling machines would be scattered throughout the state," he added.

While a law enforcement needs analysis has been non-existent in this proposed legislation, Davis estimates Illinois would have to hire hundreds of new police and regulatory personnel to begin addressing the law enforcement requirement of this gambling expansion.

"Moreover, it would be difficult if not impossible to curb the influence of organized crime in this new, tough-to-regulate enterprise," Davis continued. "Video poker was recently tied to the 2007 prosecution of Chicago Outfit boss Michael Marcello, who owns M&M Amusements, one of Chicago's largest suppliers of video poker machines," he continued.

Davis also said that the state's self exclusion program, which prohibits problem gamblers from entering casinos, would be left hobbled if video gambling is legalized. "Video gambling has been called the crack cocaine of gaming. I have significant concern that entire families will be left penniless because mom or dad will be feeding their entire paychecks into the video poker machines," he concluded.

    CONTACT: John Pastuovic    630-782-0795 (office)    312-925-9092 (cell)    john@jpcpr.com

SOURCE Chicago Crime Commission