TO: Senator Jon Ford, (R-Terre Haute), Indiana Senate, Representative Alan Morrison (R-Terre Haute), Indiana House of Representatives and all other public officials who may have jurisdiction, or powers of approval , or the granting of incentives, for the advancement of casino gambling in Vigo County, Indiana.

Greetings:

WHEREAS, the above Senator has announced his intention to introduce, or has introduced, legislation in the Indiana General Assembly authorizing or encouraging the establishment of a gambling casino in Vigo County, Indiana, and

WHEREAS, the aforesaid Representative Morrison is reported to intend to propose and support such legislation in the Indiana House, and

WHEREAS, other public officials having jurisdiction, or powers of approval, or the granting of incentives for the advancement of such an activity or development have suggested their support for a casino gambling development, and

WHEREAS, the undersigned Petitioners are informed, persuaded, and convinced that gambling casinos are a detriment to the well-being of their community in the following particulars:

1. Gambling casinos cause, perpetuate, and foster addiction to gambling.
2. Gambling machines and other gambling practices are designed to encourage, and do encourage, addiction in persons using such devices and practices.
3. Public opinion does not support predatory gambling such as exists in casinos such as those advanced in the above proposition.
4. Gambling casinos produce nothing of value to any person other than their owners.
5. Profits from gambling casinos do not remain in the community where they are located, but those profits migrate to other locations.
6. Gambling casinos result in a net economic loss to the communities in which they are located.
7. Gambling casinos, by their very nature, unduly burden and exploit persons of lesser economic means, and cause a widening of economic inequality.
8. Gambling revenues to government are experiencing a trend of general decline.
9. Gambling casinos are in general decline themselves, as witnessed by the 750 unused gambling games proposed to be migrated to Vigo county, as well as other evidence such as casino closures.
10. And for numerous other various reasons too numerous to mention in this petition that make the establishment of casino gambling contrary to the best interests of the Vigo County community.

THEREFORE: We, the undersigned, hereby petition those persons above addressed, and the community of Vigo County in general, to cease and desist from promoting and advancing the cause of legalized, professional, legalized gambling and gambling casinos within Vigo County, Indiana. 

In witness whereof we hereby attach our names and signatures: