UPDATE: Supreme Court to Hear Case that Could Legalize Daily Fantasy Sports in U.S.

More than six years after New Jersey voters endorsed legal wagering on football, baseball and other sports events, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing a case that could make sports betting — already a multibillion-dollar illegal industry — legal in the state and elsewhere. Read more here.

UPDATE: Supreme Court to Hear Appeal of Daily Fantasy Sports Ruling

Supreme Court to Hear Appeal of Daily Fantasy Sports Ruling Every effort has been met with opposition from the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the four major professional sports leagues — Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League — even as some of the leagues have partnered with … Continue reading UPDATE: Supreme Court to Hear Appeal of Daily Fantasy Sports Ruling →

UPDATE: 40 Percent of Student Gamblers are in Debt

From a country with widespread online gambling: The Gambling Commission’s recent survey of 1,000 U.K. students found that 40% of student gamblers are in debt because of #gambling.  Another good reason to oppose Daily Fantasy Sports. Read more here.

What You Need to Know About AB 526/SB 436 – Daily Fantasy Sports

What You Need to Know About AB 526/SB 436 – Daily Fantasy Sports Daily Fantasy Sports has a fundamentally different relationship to chance than do season-long fantasy sports leagues.  Daily Fantasy Sports operates on a per-game basis. Therefore, on any given day an injury, a snowstorm, or a ball bouncing strangely could affect a Daily … Continue reading What You Need to Know About AB 526/SB 436 – Daily Fantasy Sports →

CAEG Recognizes Problem Gambling Awareness Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Monday, February 26, 2018 Contact: Lorri Pickens lorri@citizensagainstgambling.com, / 920-358-7980 Appleton, WI—  March is Problem Gambling Awareness month and Citizens Against Expanding Gambling is redoubling its efforts to educate the public, elected officials and other opinion leaders about the dangers associated with problem gambling.  The Wisconsin Council of Problem Gamblers estimates … Continue reading CAEG Recognizes Problem Gambling Awareness Month →

A Brief History of Gambling in Wisconsin

A Brief History of Gambling in Wisconsin Wisconsin’s legalized gambling began with the State sponsored lottery and the Legislature’s approval of dog racing. Soon afterward, the state’s Native American Tribes, which had been operating high stakes bingo parlors, entered casino gaming, having won federal government approval in the courts after Congress passed the Indian Gaming … Continue reading A Brief History of Gambling in Wisconsin →

Daily Fantasy Sports Bill – Memo to State Legislators

LEGISLATIVE MEMORANDUM   To:        Members, Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly From: Julaine K. Appling, President, Wisconsin Family Action               Lorri Pickens, Executive Director, Citizens Against Expanded Gambling Date:    September 11, 2017 Re:        LRB 2122 – Daily Fantasy Sports Registry, relating to: registration … Continue reading Daily Fantasy Sports Bill – Memo to State Legislators →

Citizens Against Expanded Gambling Applauds Bipartisan Effort to Cap Lottery Advertising

Representative Rob Hutton and Senator Fred Risser released proposed legislation for co-sponsorship today (LRB 3211/1) that would cap spending on lottery advertising at $5M annually, as well limiting the scope of advertising with protective measures. The lottery is a regressive tax aimed at the poor. Research shows that the highest per capita sales are sold … Continue reading Citizens Against Expanded Gambling Applauds Bipartisan Effort to Cap Lottery Advertising →

Bipartisan Bill to Cap Lottery Advertising – AB 454

We have some great news! As you may recall, Governor Walker’s 2017-19 budget calls for increasing annual lottery advertising spending by $3 million to $10.5 million. That’s a 40% boost in funding for advertising aimed at increasing lottery sales, many of which are sold in the zip codes with the lowest per capita income. As … Continue reading Bipartisan Bill to Cap Lottery Advertising – AB 454 →

Get the Facts and Spread the Word!

May 10, 2017 Proponents of internet gambling are busying spending millions of dollars to paint a false narrative about Daily Fantasy Sports.  They’d like you and our lawmakers to believe that they are trying to regulate the industry to protect Wisconsin citizens. But, they aren’t telling you the whole story.   Download the Daily Fantasy Sports … Continue reading Get the Facts and Spread the Word! →

The Biggest Expansion of Gambling in Wisconsin’s History Could Happen This Year

April 3, 2017 The Biggest Expansion of Gambling in Wisconsin’s History Could Happen This Year It’s likely you haven’t heard much about the legislation that is expected to be introduced before the end of this year and will represent the biggest expansion of gambling in Wisconsin’s history – Daily Fantasy Sports.  Lobbyists for the Daily … Continue reading The Biggest Expansion of Gambling in Wisconsin’s History Could Happen This Year →

State Budget calls for $3 million in Lottery Advertising

March 2, 2017 State Budget calls for $3 million in Lottery Advertising Governor Walker’s 2017-19 budget calls for increasing annual lottery advertising spending by $3 million to $10.5 million.   That’s a 40% boost in funding for advertising aimed at increasing lottery sales. This advertising comes at a cost that can be measured in tax dollars … Continue reading State Budget calls for $3 million in Lottery Advertising →

Hope for a Dollar?

February 26, 2017 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Op-Ed by Julaine Appling “Where else can you buy hope for a dollar?”  This sad statement from gamblers shows the level of desperation too many reach in trying to secure their present and their future. Gambling is a zero-sum game. Winner takes all; loser loses all he or she … Continue reading Hope for a Dollar? →

Forum on Combatting Legalization of Internet Gambling Draws Dozens of Citizens

Burlington –  Citizens Against Expanded Gambling and Wisconsin Family Council partnered to hold their first forum last night, drawing a crowd of 39 participants in Burlington.  The forum informed citizens on the facts about the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) industry, the impact of legalizing Internet gambling, and provided effective tools of engagement to combat expected … Continue reading Forum on Combatting Legalization of Internet Gambling Draws Dozens of Citizens →

Citizens Against Expanded Gambling host forums on the Danger of Legalizing Internet Gambling in Wisconsin

MADISON – Citizens Against Expanded Gambling and Wisconsin Family Council are sponsoring educational forums across Wisconsin to highlight the dangers of legalizing Daily Fantasy Sports.  The first two forums will be held at the Charcoal Grill in Burlington, WI on Tuesday, January 24 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, and the Sheboygan Pizza Ranch on February … Continue reading Citizens Against Expanded Gambling host forums on the Danger of Legalizing Internet Gambling in Wisconsin →

Citizens Across Wisconsin Join Tele-Townhall Opposing Gambling Expansion

MADISON – Nearly 900 residents from across the state joined Citizens Against Expanded Gambling’s tele-townhall last night to discuss the dangers of expanding gambling in Wisconsin.  Congressman Glenn Grothman strongly voiced his opposition to any new casinos, noting the negative impact far outweighs any benefit they bring to a community.  “If you put a casino … Continue reading Citizens Across Wisconsin Join Tele-Townhall Opposing Gambling Expansion →

Citizens Against Expanded Gambling Tele-Townhall Audio

More Isn’t Always Better

According to a recent study by Wisconsin Public Research Institute, every Wisconsin resident is within a two-hour drive of a Native-American gaming facility.   The casino market in Wisconsin is saturated, and introducing a new casino into a saturated market has consequences both economic and social. In a saturated market, any new revenue that is generated … Continue reading More Isn’t Always Better →

Cost of Gambling Far Outweighs Benefits

As the nation’s annual April 15th tax filing deadline nears, one reason why we are paying more taxes for less government services than we should is because of regional casinos and lotteries. State governments have relentlessly pushed these extreme forms of gambling onto the public in a bid to collect more money. Yet a new … Continue reading Cost of Gambling Far Outweighs Benefits →

Citizens Against Expanded Gambling Hosts Tele-Townhall

Click here to view the press release (PDF)

Online Gambling Is a Serious Threat

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) has been a highly debated topic in recent months.  Forbes reported that daily games were projected to generate $2.6 billion in entry fees alone in 2015 while only paying out around $1 billion in contest prizes.  More concerning, is that 80 percent of bettors will lose about half of their money. … Continue reading Online Gambling Is a Serious Threat →

Citizens Against Expanded Gambling Plays Major Role in Defeating the Legalization of Internet Gambling in Wisconsin

Click here to view the press release (PDF)

Wisconsin Teenagers Are Among the Most Vulnerable to Gambling Addiction

Teenagers today have the world in the palm of their hands.  Literally.  Smart phones, laptops, tablets and any devices that access the internet makes just about anything in any part of the world at their disposal.  The good, the bad and the ugly. The internet exposes children to gambling well before they’re 18 – they … Continue reading Wisconsin Teenagers Are Among the Most Vulnerable to Gambling Addiction →

Testimony Opposing AB 800

TO: Chairman Swearingen and Members of State Affairs and Government Operations FR: Lorri Pickens, Citizens Against Expanded Gambling DATE: January 27, 2015 RE: Testimony Opposing AB 800 Thank you Chairman Swearingen and Members of State Affairs and Government Operations. My name is Lorri Pickens, and I am here on behalf of Citizens Against Expanded Gambling. … Continue reading Testimony Opposing AB 800 →

The High Stakes of Online Fantasy Sports Gambling

Gambling is taking on a new flavor – daily fantasy sports (DFS) betting. It’s the latest trend sweeping the nation, and there is really big money on the line. According to some analysts, entry fees in daily fantasy sports will total $18 billion by 2020. Proponents of legalizing DFS gambling are trying to skirt the … Continue reading The High Stakes of Online Fantasy Sports Gambling →

Letters to the editor

Below is a letter to the editor written by Tim Johnson of Beloit. Letters to the editors are very effective ways to let members of your community and elected officials know that there is opposition to the expansion of gambling and casinos in Wisconsin as well as an opportunity to educate why people they should … Continue reading Letters to the editor →

Myth: Predatory Gambling is About Personal Freedom

Casino owners and often times, public officials make the claim that casinos represent “personal freedom,” as they argue that the act of gambling itself is a choice. According to them, it’s a “voluntary act.” That’s not the whole story.

The Promise of Jobs – Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid

It happens time after time.  The casino developers roll up with their shiny new toy, a scaled model of a giant casino complex complete with state-of-the-art everything.  No detail left to the imagination.  The smell of money lingers in the air and intoxicates the local elected officials, area business owners, and the townspeople.   And, of … Continue reading The Promise of Jobs – Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid →

Casinos Are a Bad Bet for Government Budgets

When one considers the tough positions local and state government elected officials face with increasing costs and declining revenues, it’s easy to understand the allure of a local Casino.  This week we will look at what it actually means to local government budgets. There is a lot of data and substantiated evidence which proves that … Continue reading Casinos Are a Bad Bet for Government Budgets →

Don’t Be Sold Short – Casino’s Do Way More Harm Than Good

Proponents of off-reservation casinos paint gambling expansion as win-win for local communities- promising jobs, millions of dollars in economic development and reinvestment, and a never-ending source of revenue for local governments. But as so many communities have discovered the hard way, the honeymoon is often short lived, if it happens at all. In Wisconsin, there … Continue reading Don’t Be Sold Short – Casino’s Do Way More Harm Than Good →

Betting the House: Five years later, Maryland’s casinos have left addiction, crime, and half-filled promises in their wake

“By the time Jim Calabrese moved to Maryland in 2001, gambling had already taken a huge toll. The hours he spent and the money he lost playing the slots and video poker caused his wife to leave him with the couple’s three daughters in tow. She left “entirely because of the gambling,” he said. Not to mention, he also narrowly escaped criminal prosecution after stealing thousands of dollars from his then-Las Vegas employer to feed his habit.”

Doubling Down: From Jackpot to Compulsive Gambler

“Her traveling companion sensed that Diana Abelt had a gambling problem. Whenever they took a drive to northern Wisconsin for the weekend, Diana insisted on stopping at a casino to play the slot machines. The companion tried taking different routes to help her avoid temptation. But it was of no use: No matter where they … Continue reading Doubling Down: From Jackpot to Compulsive Gambler →

Deadly Bet – The Jason McGuigan Story

“When Jason failed to place a large bet for Wu, a bet that would have won a very large amount of money, Mark turned to violence to settle his score. Wu shot Jason in his own home, along with two of Jason’s roommates…”

Burglary suspect arrested at Ho-Chunk Casino, police say

“A man suspected of multiple burglaries across Wisconsin and other states was arrested Tuesday night at Ho-Chunk Casino near Wisconsin Dells. Hall is a suspect in three Sauk County burglaries in June 2014, as well as other burglaries in other counties and states. “He was the subject of numerous crime alerts and a statewide manhunt,” said Sheriff Chip Meister.”

Gambling addiction derailed Sheboygan woman’s life

“In reality, it was more than $500,000 she had taken from the company. For her crimes, she received eight years in prison.”

Ho-Chunk casino proposal up next for federal review

“Supporters of a proposed Ho-Chunk casino in Beloit hope the proposal will move more quickly through federal review now that Gov. Scott Walker has decided against the Menominee Nation’s request to build a casino in Kenosha.”

Ho-Chunk confident in Beloit casino plan

“The Ho-Chunk is in the middle of a proposal to build an off-reservation casino in Beloit, however Greendeer said there has been no update on their project status. The Environmental Impact Statement for the Beloit casino project is currently at the BIA office in Washington, D.C., and is waiting for approval from the office before being sent back to the regional BIA office in Minnesota.”

Lac du Flambeau vote against continuing to fund Shullsburg casino application process

“A referendum vote by the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians was 140-138 against continuing to fund the Shullsburg Gaming Fee-To-Trust application for the development of the off-reservation casino in Shullsburg, a tribal spokesman said. The vote did not mean that the tribe was pulling its application for the proposed $132 million casino, according to tribal spokesman Brandon Thoms. But it is one of the options open to tribal leaders as they seek alternative sources for funding the application process, he added.”

Shullsburg and Lac du Flambeau ready for new casino

“The project would also need approval from the state of Wisconsin. That’s proved a stumbling block for the Menominee Tribe’s plan for an off-reservation casino in Kenosha. Governor Scott Walker has put off approving the plan due to another tribe’s opposition to it.”

WI: Shullsburg still betting on casino after big-time bust

“Nearly 100 percent of Wisconsin residents live within a two-hour drive of a casino, according to a recent study by the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, a free-market think tank. The report, authored by University of Wisconsin-Green Bay professor emeritus Daniel Alesch, concludes the market for Native American gaming in the Badger State is saturated.”

City takes stance against Ho-Chunk trust plan

“The City of Baraboo agreed to support Sauk County’s opposition to the Ho-Chunk Nation taking land near their casino into tax-exempt status Monday evening, with the proviso that the interested parties should work on a mutually agreeable compromise. Controversy has been sparked among local government bodies after the Nation applied to the federal Bureau of Indian affairs to have 600 acres of land along Highway 12 and North Reedsburg Road given trust status. Schauf has estimated trust status for the properties would result in a loss of about $700,000 in taxes for the county, Baraboo School District, town of Delton and other governments.”

When tribal gaming goes sour… rights & remedies in an unclear legal environment

“These creditor leverage points, however, are often not available in the context of tribal-owned gaming entities, limiting the options for borrowers and lenders/creditors.”

Casino Muni Bond Defaults Because “The People Got Fed Up”

“A federal court actually allowed an American Indian tribe to get out of a $50 million bond it owed to a private investor, raising concerns among other tribal-casino lenders. The 3,500-member Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, in northern Wisconsin, said $782,000 in monthly bond payments were bleeding it dry so last fall, it stopped making them, arguing that the deal was invalid.”