Reviewing one R-M article on this subject, I found it astounding that “people in Galesburg spent $26 million gambling in 2018, and lost just over $7 million of that; $26 million is about a quarter of what the entire population of the city spends on food each year”. The article also stated that “the state takes 30 percent of gaming revenue and gives municipalities 5 percent”. Our city and state surely needs revenue, which we should be ‘flush with’ after marijuana is legalized in Illinois. I need my state pension! Not being much of a gambler, I occasionally buy a lotto ticket; I don’t frequent casinos; I’d never contemplate a vacation in Las Vegas. Many folks do travel to the Quad Cities, Peoria and elsewhere to gamble, so I guess it’s convenient and beneficial for ‘the Burg’ to offer gambling opportunities. I do question the social impact of this behavior for many families, and marvel that people have that much disposable income.
Trish Forsyth Voss
May 5 2019
What I think about the growth of gambling locally.
Reviewing one R-M article on this subject, I found it astounding that “people in Galesburg spent $26 million gambling in 2018, and lost just over $7 million of that; $26 million is about a quarter of what the entire population of the city spends on food each year”. The article also stated that “the state takes 30 percent of gaming revenue and gives municipalities 5 percent”. Our city and state surely needs revenue, which we should be ‘flush with’ after marijuana is legalized in Illinois. I need my state pension! Not being much of a gambler, I occasionally buy a lotto ticket; I don’t frequent casinos; I’d never contemplate a vacation in Las Vegas. Many folks do travel to the Quad Cities, Peoria and elsewhere to gamble, so I guess it’s convenient and beneficial for ‘the Burg’ to offer gambling opportunities. I do question the social impact of this behavior for many families, and marvel that people have that much disposable income.
Trish Forsyth Voss
By spiritspeak • Community Roundtable 0