UCC Effort against Casino Expansion

We need your help to stop another casino from being built in Connecticut. The Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ is leading this effort.

Casinos profit when people lose their money. Casinos derive their revenue disproportionally from low wage workers, minorities, the elderly, the mentally ill, and the disabled, thereby contributing to economic and social inequality. There is no justice in using addictive gambling machines to obtain revenue from these most vulnerable populations.

The short-term benefits from a casino would be heavily outweighed by its longer-term economic and social costs. Some proponents of casinos say they will bring new jobs, profits, and tax revenue—and they do—but those jobs, profits, and revenue will be overwhelmingly funded by the gambling losses of Connecticut residents. The gambling addictions encouraged by casinos lead to debt, bankruptcies, broken families, and crime, which consume economic gains. According to a landmark report from the Institute for American Values, local and regional casinos drain wealth from communities, weaken nearby businesses, hurt property values, reduce civic participation, imperil family stability, and impair other forms of social capital that are the heart of a successful community.

The state needs to focus on things that build up—rather than tear down—our communities. The Connecticut Conference has several resolutions in opposition to expanded gambling, and since we are the leaders working on this issue, we are building a Coalition Against Casino Expansion in Connecticut. It is made up of several religious denominations as well as civic organizations, and we are looking for many other groups to join the Coalition.

Two things you can do to help:

1. Please inform yourself about this issue and please write, call, or meet with your legislators—and encourage others to do the same—to oppose another casino in Connecticut.  Michele Mudrick, the Conference’s legislative advocate, is available to attend any legislator meetings.
2. Reach out to Michele Mudrick if you are interested in learning more or getting involved in the Coalition Against Casino Expansion in Connecticut.

Here is a link to how to find out who your legislator is: www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/cgafindleg.asp

Here is the link to a report created by the Council on Casinos on “Why Casinos Matter:” stoppredatorygambling.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013-Why-Casinos-Matter-FINAL.pdf

Please reach out to Michele Mudrick at michelem@ctucc.org or call or text her at 860.796.3822 to let her know what State Representatives and what State Senators you contacted. Michele is keeping track of this.

Let us put our faith into action. Your voice counts! Thank you for your support and taking the time to act.