Note: The following resolution was approved at the annual conference of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference of the United Methodist Church in June 2008.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

Marylanders will vote on a referendum to amend the state constitution to allow slot machine gambling in November 2008, putting 15,000 slot machines at venues including Anne Arundel County, Cecil County, Worcester County, Rocky Gap State Park Allegheny County, and Baltimore City.

The referendum will be on the ballot statewide to amend the state constitution. If approved, an oversight commission in Annapolis would ultimately decide where slot machine parlors are located. This means that every county in Maryland ultimately becomes a candidate for slot machine parlors.

The United Methodist Church opposes gambling, stating:

"Gambling, as a means of acquiring material gain by chance and at the neighbor's expense, is a menace to personal character and social morality. Gambling fosters greed and stimulates the fatalistic faith in chance. Organized and commerical gambling is a threat to business, breeds crime and poverty, and is destructive to the interests of good government. It encourages the belief that work is unimportant, that money can solve all our problems, and that greed is the norm for achievement. It serves as a 'regressive tax' on those with lower income. In summary, gambling is bad economics; gambling is bad public policy; and gambling does not improve the quality of life." (2004 Book of Resolutions, "Gambling," ¶203)

The National Research Council found that "many families of pathological gamblers suffer from a variety of financial hardships" and "children of compulsive gamblers are more likely to engage in delinquent behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and using drugs" as well as an increased risk of becoming pathological gamblers. The report estimates the cost of job loss, unemployment benefits, welfare benefits, poor physical and mental health, and treatment for pathological gamblers comes to $1,200 per year and $715 per year for problem gamblers.[1]

Gambling is a terrible example of stewardship of the resources God gives us; it creates social costs that are hidden and often do not become apparent until long after lotteries, casinos, betting parlors and game rooms have become entrenched in communities.

Research shows that addiction levels jump sharply when gambling is nearby. The industry’s own numbers show that one to two percent of gamblers will have an addiction problem. One in five will attempt suicide.[2]

Almost every dollar that goes into a slot machine would have been spent on another more productive activity. Gambling draws spending away from legitimate businesses like restaurants, shops, and other attractions and;

Gambling was legal in four counties in Maryland from 1949-1968 (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's) and this area was known nationwide as “Little Vegas.” Government corruption and organized crime were serious problems.[3]

It is widely believed that if this issue had gone to referendum in Delaware, it would have been defeated, as these referendums have been defeated in the majority of states where they have been on the ballot. Although Delawareans did not have the opportunity to fight this issue in Delaware, let us be united in our opposition to it in Maryland, working together.

We therefore ask that our community of the Peninsula Delaware Annual Conference come together to oppose this referendum. Let the churches in Delaware, who are already living with the effects of slot machine gambling, join in the fight, and work side by side with churches in Maryland, standing against this together.

Together, pastors and lay people, let’s study this issue, invite speakers on this issue, empower laity to volunteer to work against this referendum, and organize at the local level to defeat the referendum, joining together with the Advocacy Resource team and ecumenically and across the community with all who are opposed to slot machines.

Sponsored by: Cheryl Michael, NoCasiNo Maryland

Submitted by: The Advocacy Resource Team

To work on this issue, contact:

Cheryl Michael

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

410-943-3553

Rev. Larry Jameson

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

410-648-5212

Rev. Tom McKelvey

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

410-641-5433

Rev. Amy Yarnall

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

410-885-5641