“The persons being lured are the elderly, the most vulnerable, on fixed incomes, with promises that revenues will benefit them in the Department of Elderly Affairs, another gimmick,” according to Verna Echols, one of our conference’s leading opponents of organized gambling. In addition, Pat Fowler of Gamblers Anonymous cites, “addictions are rising too fast,” and it is hopeless when all your money is gone. Suicides are rising in this age bracket, as well.

Just as Nehemiah said “No” to meeting his enemies who waited to kill him in the plains of Ono, voters have overwhelmingly said no to casinos. What is it about “No” that legislators don’t understand? Look what slot machine addiction has done in other places. It has led to debt much greater than people can handle and divorce because of greed, not to mention despair and depression. The elderly deserve some enjoyment in life, but just look at how it’s wrecking their lives.

Promoters are telling lawmakers, “Florida can’t lose!” Slots supposedly would help the tracks withstand competition from American Indian casinos and day-cruise gambling boats and pay taxes the others don’t.

An article that recently appeared in the “St. Petersburg Times” pointed out that, “They don’t mention, of course, that the bill would moot the question of whether the American Indians’ slots are illegal under federal law, nor do they point out that the legislature already has everything it needs, but the guts to stop the cruises to nowhere.”