Fall 2024 Newsletter

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Fall 2024

Dear Supporters,

When the Legislature adjourned this year we breathed a sigh of relief as no expanded gambling bills were passed. Unfortunately, that relief did not last long as the Governor called for a special session on property tax reduction. We all want that but how do we get there? One of the 131 ways he suggested was to make Sports Betting by phone legal. BAD IDEA !  This would provide very little revenue and subject many Nebraskans to addiction, especially the younger generation. Below is a timeline of what GWGL has been up to.

  • On Wed. July 31st a number of us, including Tom Osborne, testified at the General Affairs Hearing on Sports Betting. The opposition had very little representation and things were looking very good for our side. Unfortunately that was not to last.
  • When the pro-gambling Senators could not get the bill (LR 3 CA) out of committee they used other tactics to keep it alive. That continues even to today as they plan to bring it back in January..
  • On the way home from the Capitol the BIG storm hit with 90 MPH winds and I lost power for 5 days.
  • This was terrible timing as our National Director, Les Bernal. from Massachusetts was arriving on Monday and I was in charge of his agenda for 3 days.
  • That proved daunting without electricity (no computer or phone). I had to use my cell phone without my database to make all the arrangements.
  • Les arrived-on Monday Aug. 5th and we filled his schedule with public meetings, a press conference, meeting with Sen. Ricketts, meeting with Tom Osborne and several radio interviews.
  • On Aug. 6th the huge new Warhorse Casino opened in Omaha.
  • We held our press conference that day and got great press coverage all over the state.. We pointed out that the small amount of money that the state will gain will never match the heartache it will bring to families & businesses.  (see encloser)
  • Needless to say I was exhausted when he left on August 7th, but pleased with the results.
  • While the Legislature was still in session we needed to watch and wait. We prevented Sports Betting on the phones this time but we know that it will raise its ugly head again in the next January session. The ultimate goal of the gambling industry is to have Casino gambling on every phone which will destroy this country.
  • As you can see the gambling industry never gives up and we can’t either. We must forever be vigilant..

That being said, our coffers are completely empty and we are asking for your help to continue our fight. As you know we operate on a very modest budget and guard your donations carefully.

I hope that you will be generous as it is desperately needed. All donations made to the 501C3 are tax deductible.

I will keep you informed of our activities.

Blessing’s,
Pat Loontjer
Executive Director “Gambling with the Good Life”

 

Telling ‘the other side of the story’

While gambling advocates celebrated the opening, local and national gambling opponents held a press conference at a separate Omaha location to warn of the social ills they predict will come.

“There’s going to be a lot of glitz and glamour with WarHorse being open today, but we need to tell the other side of the story,” said Pat Loontjer, director of Gambling with the Good Life.

“We believe it’s probably one of the saddest days for the city and for the state that we’ve had in a long, long time,” Loontjer said.

Jonathan Krutz, president of the board of Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation, said he came to Nebraska to warn residents that casinos are designed to statistically guarantee that the more you play, the more you will lose.Residents should “avoid getting sucked into the addictive trance that slot machines and other forms of gambling promote to empty your wallet,” he said.

Gambling opponents held their press conference at Omaha’s Open Door Mission, which provides shelter and meals for people experiencing homelessness and hunger.

Candace Gregory, chief executive officer of the Open Door Mission, said the facility is already affected by gambling in Iowa and the new Prairie Flower Casino, which is a 10-minute walk from the shelter.

She said the negative impacts of WarHorse Omaha entering the community won’t be far behind.

“Whether it be through bankruptcies, suicide attempts, successful suicide, we see families that are destroyed, loss of employment and jobs, and, of course, the children who are the victims in all of this,” she said.

Les Bernal, executive director of the national anti-gambling group Stop Predatory Gambling, said casinos are destined to fail because they are “the ultimate budget gimmick,” pitched as tax relief but costing communities instead.