Decatur residents have spoken. Reduce the number of gambling establishments
The residents of Decatur have spoken loudly and clearly. There are too many gambling establishments in the city. Earlier this month, the city surveyed its residents regarding video gambling and its impact. I thank the 787 residents that completed the 5-question survey and provided 465 comments and suggestions.
85% OF RESPONDENTS BELIEVE THERE ARE TOO MANY GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS
The Decatur City Council can make sure the number of gambling establishments goes down by capping the number of gambling licenses that are issued in the city. Doing this will prohibit the issuing of any new gambling licenses until the total number of gambling establishments is less than the cap while grandfathering in all current gambling establishments. Given that there were 100 gambling establishments in the city from May 2022-April 2023, setting a cap of 80 establishments (a 20% reduction) is a good first step in heeding residents' concerns that there are too many gambling establishments.
76% OF RESPONDENTS INDICATED THAT THE CITY SHOULD NOT ISSUE GAMBLING LICENSES TO ESTABLISHMENTS THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STAY OPEN WITHOUT IT
Is an establishment a coffee shop or a casino, is it a convenience store or a casino, is it a laundromat or a casino? The city council can make sure a business is what it says it is by requiring that gambling establishments have at least 50% of their business revenues derived from sources other than gambling. The city council must do better in protecting city residents the negative consequences of gambling including addiction, bankruptcy, and crime.
63% OF RESPONDENTS INDICATE THAT THE PRESENCE OF VIDEO GAMBLING DISTRACTS OR DISRUPTS THEIR EXPERIENCE
The city of Decatur is not reliant on gambling revenue. The $2.3 million in gambling revenue the city receives represents <3% of general fund revenues. The city has never calculated the societal costs of gambling including addiction, bankruptcy, and crime. Net gambling revenue to the city needs to subtract from the $2.3 million the societal costs to gambling, as well as the revenue the city would earn if the $46.9 million lost to gambling was spent in other ways here in Decatur. It is plausible and likely that gambling is a net negative for city revenue and the image of our city.
WASH & WIN IS A LOSING PROPOSITION FOR DECATUR RESIDENTS
The state of gambling in Decatur can perhaps best be summed up by the developer of “Wash & Win”, an establishment where one can do laundry, gamble, and drink alcohol at a bar/cocktail lounge. According to the representative for the developer: “Population declines in the city and area require reaction from retailers”, and further states “Under difficult population circumstances, we have been willing to stay engaged and respond to changing needs in the neighborhood with additional investment.”
Slot machines are not an investment for citizens and given that Decatur is one of the poorest cities in Illinois, it reasonable to assume that a large amount of the gambling revenue is from poorer individuals that may live in blighted neighborhoods. The per capita gambling loss is $679 per resident. The city council should shrink the negative impact of gambling by capping the number of gambling licenses it issues and requiring that at least 50% of an establishment’s revenue comes from other sources of income.
RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM GAMBLING
I want to thank organizations such as Heritage Behavioral Health Center that offer programs to address gambling addiction in our city. To get help, visit www.heritagenet.org or call The Problem Gambling Hotline at 1-800-Gambler.
85% OF RESPONDENTS BELIEVE THERE ARE TOO MANY GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS
The Decatur City Council can make sure the number of gambling establishments goes down by capping the number of gambling licenses that are issued in the city. Doing this will prohibit the issuing of any new gambling licenses until the total number of gambling establishments is less than the cap while grandfathering in all current gambling establishments. Given that there were 100 gambling establishments in the city from May 2022-April 2023, setting a cap of 80 establishments (a 20% reduction) is a good first step in heeding residents' concerns that there are too many gambling establishments.
76% OF RESPONDENTS INDICATED THAT THE CITY SHOULD NOT ISSUE GAMBLING LICENSES TO ESTABLISHMENTS THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STAY OPEN WITHOUT IT
Is an establishment a coffee shop or a casino, is it a convenience store or a casino, is it a laundromat or a casino? The city council can make sure a business is what it says it is by requiring that gambling establishments have at least 50% of their business revenues derived from sources other than gambling. The city council must do better in protecting city residents the negative consequences of gambling including addiction, bankruptcy, and crime.
63% OF RESPONDENTS INDICATE THAT THE PRESENCE OF VIDEO GAMBLING DISTRACTS OR DISRUPTS THEIR EXPERIENCE
The city of Decatur is not reliant on gambling revenue. The $2.3 million in gambling revenue the city receives represents <3% of general fund revenues. The city has never calculated the societal costs of gambling including addiction, bankruptcy, and crime. Net gambling revenue to the city needs to subtract from the $2.3 million the societal costs to gambling, as well as the revenue the city would earn if the $46.9 million lost to gambling was spent in other ways here in Decatur. It is plausible and likely that gambling is a net negative for city revenue and the image of our city.
WASH & WIN IS A LOSING PROPOSITION FOR DECATUR RESIDENTS
The state of gambling in Decatur can perhaps best be summed up by the developer of “Wash & Win”, an establishment where one can do laundry, gamble, and drink alcohol at a bar/cocktail lounge. According to the representative for the developer: “Population declines in the city and area require reaction from retailers”, and further states “Under difficult population circumstances, we have been willing to stay engaged and respond to changing needs in the neighborhood with additional investment.”
Slot machines are not an investment for citizens and given that Decatur is one of the poorest cities in Illinois, it reasonable to assume that a large amount of the gambling revenue is from poorer individuals that may live in blighted neighborhoods. The per capita gambling loss is $679 per resident. The city council should shrink the negative impact of gambling by capping the number of gambling licenses it issues and requiring that at least 50% of an establishment’s revenue comes from other sources of income.
RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM GAMBLING
I want to thank organizations such as Heritage Behavioral Health Center that offer programs to address gambling addiction in our city. To get help, visit www.heritagenet.org or call The Problem Gambling Hotline at 1-800-Gambler.