Video poker will bring terrible consequences

In a recent letter ("Video gaming will add jobs, revenue", July 27) the President of the Illinois Coin Machine Operators Association, Mr. Fielder, extolled the benefits of the newly passed video gambling bill. In one of his main points he claims the Illinois Gaming Board will guarantee the integrity of the system based on their past experience with other forms of gambling.

How ironic that on the same day his letter ran, the Herald's main article portrayed exactly the opposite ("Is video gambling regulation in jeopardy?"). Even the Gaming Board chairman acknowledged the board was woefully unequipped to deal with this new burden.

Mr. Fiedler claims there is no evidence that introducing video gambling reduces revenue from other gambling venues. So, in other words, we should be thrilled that video gambling means that even more consumer dollars will be siphoned out of our economy to line the pockets of the gambling establishment?

Next, Mr. Fiedler cites Louisiana's gambling ventures as an example of how other gambling revenue (i.e. people's losses) dramatically increased since video poker was introduced in 2000. To that I say that Mr. Fiedler is right on to compare Illinois to Louisiana. It is arguable as to which of these two states is first, and which is second, in regard to official corruption. As gambling increases, so does the corruption factor.

There may be many good reasons for Mr. Fiedler to want video gambling in Illinois, which understandably benefits his association's membership. However, I, like many Illinoisans, do not see the addition of thousands of new gambling machines across virtually every town in this state as a good thing. To this I hold our Governor, Pat Quinn, wholly responsible for the devastating consequences sure to come as a result.

Mark Evenson

Palatine