April 9, 2021 Dear Friend, St. Tammany Parish residents spoke loud and clear in 1996: they said NO to gambling in their parish. They knew back then what we know now: the gambling industry makes broken promises, delivers broken dreams, broken lives and broken homes. Each year, Louisiana gambling venues siphon $3 billion of personal wealth in the form of gambling losses, often from those who can least afford it. A bulk of that money migrates out of state forever. In fact, it is estimated that for every dollar generated in tax revenue, the State of Louisiana spends $3 in social costs such as welfare, unemployment, crime, etc. This makes gambling an expensive proposition for Louisiana; still, the industry continues to push for deregulation, expansion, and virgin territory. A proposal in St. Tammany Parish would place a new land-based casino in the City of Slidell. It would be operated by the same company (Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, P2E) whose previous casino in Bossier City went bankrupt. Gambling's promise to “play everyday, get lucky every night!” hasn't worked for P2E, the citizens of Bossier City, and it won't work in Slidell either. The gambling industry wants to locate a casino on the Northshore of Lake Ponchartrain. If St. Tammany Parish residents say NO to the industry’s broken promises, P2E will be packing their bags and leaving the state! St. Tammany is a great place to live and work. Don't let P2E take that away! It is now up to the Louisiana Legislature to pass a bill authorizing a new casino in St. Tammany. One proposal specifically calls for P2E to be the operator, SB 213, by Sen. Sharon Hewitt). Another bill, HB 497 by Rep. Mary Dubuisson, does not specify the operator. Both Legislators represent St. Tammany Parish. St. Tammany residents must now reach out to the decision makers at the State Capitol, including Sen. Hewitt and Rep. Dubuisson, who are hearing promises from 20+ lobbyists hired by the gambling industry. Please take a moment to let your voice be heard: - Contact members of the St. Tammany legislative delegation as well as Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer through this 60-Second Brigade and ask them to say NO to the casino.
- Email and/or call your State Representative and let them know that you oppose the Louisiana gambling license exchange.
- If you live in St. Tammany Parish, contact Parish Council members.
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