While Virginia Considers Off-Track Betting, Congress Okays International Equivalent
by Rusty Pugh and Jody Brown
October 15, 2004
(AgapePress) - A pro-family advocate says citizens of Virginia should not believe the lies of the gambling industry, and should say no to so-called "off-track betting."In November, voters in several Virginia localities will be asked if they want what is referred to as "off-track betting" or OTB parlors opened in their communities. Also known as "simulcast wagering," it allows people to bet on horse races at locales other than the live race track.
Victoria Cobb, legislative director for the Family Foundation of Virginia, maintains the gambling industry in general promises communities millions of dollars, but the promises often remain unfulfilled. In addition, she says the reasons against expanding this form of gambling are numerous.
"Gambling has a severe impact on family," Cobb says, citing that gambling often plays a role in divorce. "Many spouses actually cite compulsive gambling as an issue in their marriage when they divorce. [And when you] look at crime statistics around gambling facilities, they absolutely increase."
Gambling-related activities, she notes, also lead to gambling addiction which also harm families. That, she says, is why her organization is "adamantly opposed" to allowing the expansion of off-track betting parlors in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Hidden Provision
An official with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of California agrees that expansion of the gambling industry results in more individuals addicted to gambling. In an interview with Family News In Focus, Tom Tucker stated that those in the gaming industry see an obvious benefit -- to them -- by making gambling available in whatever manner possible.
"If [racetrack owners can] become more powerful with more money, they're going to figure out other ways of getting people involved," Tucker told FNIF. "They're in the business of expanding gambling in any way possible."
Gambling advocates in Virginia are not the only ones pushing for off-site betting. Both houses of Congress have passed a piece of legislation called the "American Jobs Creation Act of 2004" (H.R. 4520). Tucked away inside that measure is a provision that would change the tax laws and make it possible for bettors in other countries to wager on horse and dog races in America.
According to the FNIF report, the change could increase profits by as much as $135 million a year -- and that is why horse racing officials consider the measure one of their top legislative priorities. H.R. 4520 passed in the House 280-141 and in the Senate 69-17. President Bush is expected to sign the bill, which is reported to contain more than 600 pages.
