For 115 years.

Senators, for 115 years gambling has been looked down upon by both

Virginia morals and Virginia law, but today we’re debating on the passage of this legislation that

goes against all of those, how would it look to the citizens of Virginia if we were to neglect these

foundations that we’ve given ourselves? It wouldn’t be right.

Which is why Senators for the following reasons I’ve given you today I urge you to vote

in the negation of Senator Chintala’s legislation for the following two reasons: one, leads to

social harm, and two, it will damage communities.

Firstly, Senators leads to social harm. According to the National Gambling Impact Study

Commission, online gambling supporters are asking government officials to approve regulations

that would help them spread online gambling nationwide, but allowing this would give

Americans the false impression that online gambling is somehow safe. According to Newsela,

the spread of online gambling will increase its availability, but where there is an increase in

availability, there’s also a documented increase in incidents of problem gambling. Leading to the

social harms of bankruptcy, divorce, prison, and suicide. Supporters of online gambling say

problem gamblers make up only a small percentage of overall players, but, the numbers don't

take into consideration when it comes to ripple effects. The National Academies Press estimates

that a compulsive gambler will affect an average of 5 to 10 other people even including

recovering problem gamblers that may not be able to undo the damage produced. The National

Council of Problem Gambling states that gamblers can lose enormous amounts of money, these

problems can ruin their relationships leading up to divorce especially in marriage. Senators, by

passing this legislation we are ruining the lives of people. We are breaking up love and

relationships, but worst of all, we’re allowing it to happen when we pass this legislation. We
must think of the people, but most importantly the lives that will be ruined. How can we do this?

We cannot. Which is why we must negate.

Secondly, Senators, it will damage communities. Baylor University professor Earl

Grinlos reports that online gambling may lead to an increase in crime, money problems, lost

work and family break-up damage our society where benefits are outweighed 3-to-1. Online

gambling is clearly more dangerous than other forms of gambling due to 24/7 availability and the

speed of the game according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, that

legalizing online gambling may seem like an attractive solution to a state’s money shortfalls.

According to the FBI in a 2009 letter to Congress, online gambling sites claim that they can

validate age and location. However, "they are more than likely relying on credit card information

and geo-location to gather this information. Both can be fooled.” As minors are being given the

opportunity to gamble which according to the New York Times, gambling hurts the poor more

than the rich as it takes money away from local businesses while damaging communities.

Senators, we must think of the people and the minors. The minors who take part in gambling at

an early age and being given the access would be the irresponsibility of today’s chamber. How

can we allow ourselves to damage communities in ways we are separating them? We cannot.

Senators, we must negate, for the communities in Virginia, for the relationships in

Virginia, but importantly, our 115-year-old morals, the foundation of today’s future