A tribal casino like Coeur d’Alene Casino in northern Idaho could be coming to DeKalb area
DEKALB – Gambling opponents hope that 500 DeKalb residents will show up Tuesday night at a public forum to consider Illinois' first tribal casino. If there's no opposition, Shabbona could be home to yet another gambling center.
The U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs' meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Kishwaukee College Conference Center, 21193 Malta Road, Malta. It is a first step in crafting an environmental impact study and an impact statement on the tribe’s plans to bring 24 hour bingo hall to the area.
"Residents and other stakeholders will have an opportunity to speak at the meeting, and federal representatives will use the information to gauge what benefits or distress the gambling would have on Shabbona and the region," Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems' executive director Anita Bedell said Tuesday.
Wisconsin has been fighting the addition of yet another tribal casino within its borders. Forbes.com reports that when casinos started booming in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute commissioned a three-part study of casino related crime in the Badger State that produced frightening results.
"The expert panel (an economist, a statistician and an expert in gaming administration) found, 'existence of a casino within the boundaries of a county led to an increase in county-wide crime rates (and) a strong spillover effect with counties adjacent experiencing higher crime rates.' Their data showed a 5,300 annual increase of 'major crimes' and 17,100 'minor crimes' with an associated cost in 2001 dollars of $51 million for Wisconsin taxpayers," Forbes writes.
In addition, debt is a damaging and destructive influence in society, and the main reason for divorce. Divorce is a main cause of poverty, depression and youth crime.
"National data demonstrates that debt increases alongside new casinos," Forbes.com . "According to the U.S. Department of Justice, casinos attract 'pathological gamblers' who account for 50% of casino revenue and much of the crime."
