Among the thousands of different federal, state, and local candidates and ballot questions the American public voted on Tuesday, the most stunning and revealing victory of all was our California members helping to soundly defeat the two most expensive ballot referendum campaigns in US history. What happened in California once again spotlights the truth about the corrupt partnership between commercialized gambling operators and state and local government officials: The Mannequin Has No Clothes. It's our nation's biggest con. It's a con that's also dangerous and highly addictive, inflicting harm upon more than 40 million Americans. There's never been a grassroots citizens movement in America to put slot machines on Main Street, push $100 lottery scratch tickets in places where people make a minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, or more recently, to open a Las Vegas-style casino and sportsbook through the Internet on every smartphone, tablet, and computer in a state. There has never been anything "inevitable" about any of it except for the same recycled talking points that predatory gambling operators have used everywhere for years hoping citizens will give up their power instead of choosing to push back. The relentless lobbying for predatory gambling has been driven by two things: greed and a lust for power. The greed of powerful corporate gambling interests and the lust for power of some politicians from both parties. Our members fight against greed and the lust for power by continuing to reveal the truth about our nation's biggest most-neglected problem. In California, gambling interests spent $600 million on the two statewide ballot questions in an effort to buy themselves the special privilege to market commercialized sports gambling through both the internet as well as brick-and-mortar casinos. Like they have done in every lobbying campaign for predatory gambling over the last thirty years, gambling interests attempted to create the illusion of grassroots support by spending tens of millions of dollars to buy the petition signatures to get the ultimate example of special interest legislation on the November ballot. Predatory gambling operators attempted to disguise their naked money grab as nothing more than a noble effort to provide a source of funding to address homelessness and mental health services, two major issues in the state. They used this cruel approach even though there is a mountain of evidence that commercialized gambling contributes to homelessness and preys upon those who suffer from mental health problems. The people of California were able to see through this deceit and pushed back. It is only because of the selfless financial generosity of our members that we are able to help educate Californians and citizens across the country about the truth behind commercialized gambling operators to prevent more victims. If you support our mission and work, please make a tax-deductible gift of any size you can afford today. Thank you. Best,
Les Bernal
Stop Predatory Gambling _______________________________ Who We Are — - Our members work to reveal the truth behind commercialized gambling operators to prevent more victims. - A 501c3 non-profit based in Washington, DC, we are a national advocacy network of individuals and partner groups with members in all 50 states. - We are one of the most diverse organizations in the United States, one in which citizens of all political stripes and life circumstances, from every corner of the country, work side-by-side. - Our funding comes from the selfless giving of every member of our national board; individual donations from hundreds of concerned citizens as well as people with the lived experience of predatory gambling from across the entire United States; gifts from a few smaller foundations; and support from members belonging to every major faith group in the country. What We Stand For — - We believe people are worth more than money. - We believe every person’s life has worth and that no one is expendable. - We believe everyone in America should have a fair opportunity to get ahead and improve their future. - We believe that a good society depends on the values of honesty, concern for others, mutual trust, self-discipline, sacrifice, and a work ethic that connects effort and reward. -We believe no agency or entity of government should depend on predatory gambling to fund its activities. By choosing to support Stop Predatory Gambling today, you’re taking an active role to protect the 40 million Americans experiencing harm caused by the greed of big gambling operators. Please help sustain our work by making a tax-deductible gift today of $10 or more. | 
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