Please call and ask your Louisiana lawmaker to vote “no” on S.B. 316 which purports simply to “move the casinos from water to land,” but actually massively expands the size of the gambling facilities.
Phone numbers are provided below.
Louisiana Baptists have declared casino gambling “a system of exploitation” that preys upon the most vulnerable of our citizens by promoting “highly addictive behaviors.”
Indeed, research shows that 40 to 60 percent of casino revenues come from problem gamblers and increasingly from the ranks of the vulnerable elderly: HALF of casino visitors are over age 50, and, casinos are marketing more and more to those over 70 — even to those who are 80 years old and more.
Moreover, the Picard Center of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette conducted research for the Louisiana Department of Health and confirmed that gambling addiction is an overwhelming and growing problem in our state and that gambling is a growing presence among our vulnerable children:
— Louisiana has the 4th highest incidence of problem gambling in the country
— More than 179,000 problem gamblers and 96,000 pathological gamblers are in the state.
— 40.6 % of 6th graders, 44.1 % of 8th graders, 40.8 % of sophomores, 34.4 % of seniors gambled in 2016 (sports bets, cards, bingo for cash, dice, games of chance)
The Apostles Paul and Peter underscored the God-ordained authority of government, emphasizing its role of protecting the people (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17).
Please ensure our state government upholds this role with regard to protecting the vulnerable from the addictive nature of casino gambling: Ask your Louisiana legislator to vote “no” on S.B. 316.
Blessings,
Will Hall, Ph.D.
Director
Louisiana Baptists
Office of Public Policy
Moral Issues. Social Concerns. Public Policy.
Mark Abraham (Lake Charles) 337-475- 3016
Neil Abramson (New Orleans) 504-275- 8051
Beryl Amedee (Houma) 985-858- 2967
Andy Anders (Vidalia) 318-336- 5865
James Armes (Leesville) 337-238- 7004
Tony Bacala (Prairieville) 225-677- 8020
Larry Bagley (Stonewall) 318-925- 9588
Taylor Barras (New Iberia) 337-373- 4051
Stephen Carter (Baton Rouge) 225-362- 5305
Bubba Chaney (Rayville) 318-728- 5875
Jean-Paul Coussan (Lafayette) 337-262- 2400
Raymond Crews (Bossier City) 318-716- 7532
Greg Comer (Slidell/Pearl River) 985-645- 3592
Paula Davis (Baton Rouge) 225-362- 5301
Phillip DeVillier (Eunice) 337-457- 0194
Rick Edmonds (Baton Rouge) 225-295- 9240
Julie Emerson (Carencro) 337-886- 4687
Reid Falconer (Mandeville) 985-792- 5185
Franklin Foil (Baton Rouge) 225-342- 6777
Roy Garofalo (Chalmette) 504-278- 6599
Johnny Guinn (Jennings) 337-824- 0376
Lance Harris (Alexandria) 318-767- 6095
Kenny Havard (Jackson) 225-634- 7470
Chris Hazel (Pineville/Alexandria) 318-767- 6082
Cameron Henry (Metaire) 504-838- 5433
Bob Hensgens (Abbeville) 337-893- 5035
Stephanie Hilferty (New Orleans) 504-885- 4154
Dorothy Sue Hill (Dry Creek/DeRidder) 800- 259-2118
Valerie Hodges (Denham Springs) 225-791- 2199
Frank Hoffmann (West Monroe) 318-362- 4130
Paul Hollis (Covington) 985-871- 4680
Dodie Horton (Bossier Parish/Haughton) 318- 949-2463
Frank Howard (Many/Vernon Parish) 318-256- 4135
Mike Huval (Breaux Bridge) 337-332- 3331
Barry Ivey (Baton Rouge) 225-261- 5739
Sam Jones (Franklin) 337-828- 7778
Nancy Landry (Lafayette) 337-262- 2252
Sherman Mack (Livingston) 225-567- 3677
Jack McFarland (Jonesboro) 318-259- 4275
Blake Miguez (Erath) 337-937- 8827
Greg Miller (Norco) 985-764- 9991
Jim Morris (Oil City) 318-995- 6852
Jay Morris (Monroe) 318-362- 4270
Nicholas Muscarello (Hammond) 985-974- 0009
Kevin Pearson (Slidell) 985-646- 6487
Rogers Pope (Denham Springs) 225-667- 3588
Steve Pugh (Ponchatoula) 985-368- 7844
Steve Pylant (Winnsboro) 318-435- 7313
D.Richard (Thibodaux) 985-447- 0999
Clay Schexnayder (Gonzales) 225-473- 6016
Alan Seabaugh (Shreveport) 318-676- 7990
Rob Shadoin (Ruston) 318-251- 5038
Scott Simon (Abita Springs) 985-893- 6246
Joseph Stagni (Kenner) 504-465- 3479
John Stefanski (Crowley) 337-384- 8999
Julie Stokes (Metarie/Kenner) 504-468- 8603
Polly Thomas (Jefferson) 504-837- 6559
Malinda White (Bogalusa) 985-730- 2147
Mark Wright (Covington) 985-893- 6262
Jerome Zeringue (Houma) 985-876- 8823
