Gambling and laundry don't mix: Decatur's Wash N Win is a losing bet
Decatur has a gambling problem, and the city may have hit rock bottom with the creation of a “Wash N Win”, a place where one can do laundry, gamble, and drink alcohol. The establishment is located in a distressed neighborhood at the SE corner of the intersection of Rt. 48 and Grand Ave.
When the concept for a Wash N Win was proposed a couple of years ago, a representative for the developer wrote: “Population declines in the city and area require reaction from retailers”, and further stated “Under difficult population circumstances, we have been willing to stay engaged and respond to changing needs in the neighborhood with additional investment.”
Video gambling is not a need and putting in money to build a bar/cocktail lounge with slot machines is not an investment for citizens that live in distressed neighborhoods. The effects of video gambling are well known and include crime, bankruptcy, and addiction. In Decatur, between March 2024 – February 2025, citizens lost $47.1 million at 91 gambling establishments containing 532 machines. The per capita gambling loss in Decatur is ~$700 per year with a large amount of the gambling revenue being transferred from poorer individuals to large businesses that are based outside of Decatur.
Sadly, in approximately 10 years, the development at this intersection has transformed from a County Market grocery store to a Save-a-Lot with a County Market deli to a complex where one can drink alcohol, play slot machines, and do laundry. In one decade, the west end of Decatur has gone from two full-service grocery stores to a near food desert with some developers narrowly focused on alcohol consumption and gambling to remain in business. As a representative of the proposed development stated “… in order to keep the entire campus viable, we had to come up with a plan to profitably fill the space.”
We need our city’s businesses, organizations, and citizens focused on reversing Decatur’s negative trends and perceptions instead of accelerating them. The city’s residents deserve better and have spoken loudly and clearly, there are too many gambling establishments in the city. A recent survey completed by 787 residents found that 85% of respondents believe there are too many gambling establishments and 63% of respondents indicated that the presence of video gambling distracts or disrupts their experience. Thus, it is plausible and likely that gambling is a net negative for city revenue and the image of our city.
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Gambling addiction is a serious and often misunderstood mental health issue with up to 10.5 million adults in the U.S. having mild to severe gambling problems. Gambling addiction can create social, emotional, and financial harm to the individual and their families. I 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.
If you would like to discuss this or other city issues with a council member, phone numbers and email addresses for each council member can be found at the following link: https://decaturil.gov/300/Mayor-Council.