The Roanoke Central Council of Parent Teacher Associations (RCC-PTA) are concerned parents, students, and educators representing PTAs and PTSAs in the Roanoke Valley. We are worried about the impact of the proposed casino on our community. Roanoke residents enjoy attending events at the Berglund Center, a cornerstone of our family-friendly community atmosphere. Roanoke City Public School seniors graduate high school in the Performing Arts theater adjacent to the proposed casino location. The introduction of a casino in this same facility where our students graduate, attend community events, and display their talents on the largest stage in Roanoke brings forth concerns about exposing our youth and their families to the elements that come along with a 24/7 casino. Activities that are simply not conducive to a healthy environment. Gambling may appear as a source of economic benefit and entertainment, but this is a facade that only benefits the corporations that own and operate casinos. Studies indicate that casinos contribute to increased crime rates, addiction issues, and economic downgrades and do not deliver on their promises of job creation, economic development, and revenue boosts. Further research indicates that the gambling industry does not have a significant lasting impact on communities. The American Gaming Association reports that the social costs greatly outweigh the economic benefits. In one of the comprehensive studies of legalized gambling on tax revenues, “The Effect of Legalized Gambling on State Government Revenue” (2011) found that commercial casinos slightly decrease state tax revenues on average due to residents substituting their spending away from other consumer expenditures. We can look to Atlantic City as a cautionary example: in 1978 they had 311 taverns and restaurants. 19 years later there remained only 66. The NORC (National Opinion Research Center) found no change overall per capita income after the introduction of casinos in communities. Any increases observed from the casinos were offset by reductions in welfare and transfer payments as well as a drop-off in income from restaurants and bars. Historically, casinos make a lot of promises about how they will give back to the community and its economy, yet rarely (if ever) do they deliver. For example, the MGM National Harbor Casino and Hotel has been operating in Maryland since 2016, yet the schools are still waiting for promised funding that never arrived. They are also predatory of the population they reside in. “Comprehensive 10‑year study of casinos in Massachusetts. The share of revenue coming from people who are problem gamblers or at risk rose from ~74% in 2013‑14 to ~90% in 2021‑22. “The biggest negative impact from our perspective is that most of the revenues generated by the casinos come from people who are at risk for or experiencing gambling problems.” - Report Summarizes Findings from a Decade of Unprecedented Gambling Research : School of Public Health & Health Sciences : UMass Amherst We must also consider the societal impact to our city. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, 1 in 5 pathological gamblers attempts suicide. The highest rate of any addiction disorders. As we are all aware, Roanoke is struggling with a dramatic increase in the homeless population in recent years and a casino would further exacerbate this. 22% of Atlantic City’s unhoused residents cited gambling was the cause of their homelessness. Nationwide that percentage is 18%. This proposed casino is within walking distance of our Rescue Mission. Considering the implications of casinos and gambling on public health and safety, we should focus on economic development alternatives that align with our community and support sustainable development. Investment in community centers, local businesses, and infrastructure improvements far outweighs the supposed short-term gains of hosting a casino. Las Vegas schools are an example of the impact on public education. In 2021, Las Vegas ranked 49th in terms of academic growth, 42nd for disadvantaged growth, 28th for progress and 42nd for graduation rates. In 2024 they managed to rise to 44th overall in public school rankings nationally. This demonstrates that even with a large surplus of casino revenue, the communities and school districts where these casinos are located do not prosper. Roanoke City Public School students deserve better. Our elected officials entered into this agreement with the mystery casino company by signing NDAs. Were they compensated for this? How do we feel as a community about our city council operating with no transparency and forcing this through to the General Assembly with no support from any of our local elected representatives? They will be seeking to gain support from legislators outside of our district to sponsor this to become a referendum. Why are they ignoring the delegates who we elected to represent us? To protect our community, we urge the Roanoke City Council to listen to the voices of residents and reject the proposal for the establishment of a casino in our hometown. Please sign this petition to show the Roanoke City Council that we stand against bringing a casino into our beautiful town. Let’s work together to ensure Roanoke remains a safe, family-friendly community for all.