Dan Coats: “there is a shadow creeping across the American landscape. It thrives in some of the poorest of our urban and rural…”

“there is a shadow creeping across the American landscape. It thrives in some of the poorest of our urban and rural communities. It threatens our towns and cities with economic cannibalism. It undermines our political process with a flood of cash into the campaign coffers of our politicians. It preys upon the weakness of the poor, the elderly, and the young with the promise of easy money. It undermines the family with pathological addition and spousal and child abuse, and neglect. Mr. President, what is this menace? We know it all too well. It is gambling. An industry that, just a few years ago, was frequently pursued by law enforcement agencies from the Federal Bureau of Investigation down to rural county sheriffs is today touted as the economic savior of communities across America. And it is increasingly embraced and promoted by State and local government across the country as the answer to chronic government funding problems. Mr. President, the gambling industry is booming. In 1988, only two States--Nevada and New Jersey--permitted casino gambling. By 1994, 23 States had legalized gambling. During this time, casino gambling revenue nearly doubled. In 1993, $400 billion was spent on all forms of legal gambling in American. Between 1992 and 1994, the gambling industry enjoyed an incredible 15 percent annual growth in revenues.…”