Monday, April 16, 2007

Some casinos are already ringing up big bucks for their owners and more
slots parlors will soon join them. Now, one lawmaker wants non-profits to
get a cut of the action by getting their own slot machines. As Erica Moffitt
reports, it's being called vital to the future of many of these community
organizations. Hundreds of clubs like VFWs, Eagles and Elks Clubs throughout
Pennsylvania have been forced to shut their doors after facing financial
troubles. Now the push is on to use gambling as a way to keep other groups
from facing the same situation. A clam dinner at VFW Post 1213 in Dauphin
County is just one event of many club members organize to bring in some much
needed money. Ken Bettinger: "What's it like to be a non-profit club? A
struggle, we're struggling with benefits, everyone's having benefits anymore
and it's hard to make money you try the best you can, but small posts like
this are really struggling." State Representative Thomas Caltagirone says
many non-profit clubs throughout Pennsylvania can't afford to stay open.
Having fewer members along with increased taxes and other costs are making
the organizations too expensive to run. So to help, Caltagirone has drafted
legislation that would allow slots in licensed clubs. Rep. Thomas
Caltagirone (D), Berks County: "It allows for clubs to purchase up to five
machines, one to five machines, pay one $100 licensing fee, they can't pay
out more than $1,000 a week per machine." Those supporting the proposal say
the slots are harmless and they'd not only help the clubs but also the
community. "People are going to gamble, you're not going to stop, so why
not a better way, let them gamble and give it back to the community." But
even with some limitations to some people, the idea of allowing gambling in
clubs is a bad one. Dianne Berlin with Casino Free PA says the clubs would
be like mini-casinos everywhere in local communities. She says there's
corruption associated with gambling and that if people want to benefit
charities, they should donate directly to the organization rather than doing
through slots.