Why Do Many Chinatown Residents Oppose A Casino In Their Backyard? It Goes Way Back

There are mixed reactions among Illinois residents regarding the prospect of a casino in Chicago, with some feeling enthusiastic about the idea while others express concerns about its potential impact on their community.

Leaders in Chinatown are becoming more worried, especially about the possibility of a new casino being built nearby.

The administration of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is currently exploring the possibility of three casinos: Hard Rock One Central located near Soldier Field, Bally’s Chicago in the vicinity of River North, and Rivers 78 near Chinatown.

Chinatown residents are worried about the negative impact a new casino, particularly if Rivers 78 is selected to lead the opening process, could have on their community, despite past opposition to such developments in the city.

Grace Chan McKibben, Executive Director of the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC), is concerned that casinos could take advantage of the cultural makeup of Chinatown residents.

She stated in an email to Play Illinois:

Casinos can be dangerous for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, young people, low-income individuals, refugees, and people of color. Those who are already struggling financially are at a higher risk of being drawn to gambling as a way to make quick money, even though casinos are designed to make them lose track of time and money.

the background of playing and the Chinese population

McKibben mentioned the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which prohibited immigrant laborers from being able to bring their family members to the United States.

As a result, a large number of Chinese immigrants started participating in recreational activities, which would have a lasting impact on Chinatown and the Chinese American community in the years that followed.

McKibben mentioned that the IDHS has recently begun providing funding for treating gambling addiction. She noted that the current funds are primarily used for counseling individuals with gambling addictions. However, she stressed the importance of securing more funding to conduct research, identify the underlying causes of the issue, and implement effective solutions to support those facing gambling problems.

McKibben recommends that Chicago and Lightfoot prioritize safeguarding organizations that support vulnerable gamblers.

• racial and ethnic groups
• Low-income neighborhoods
• communities of immigrants
• Seniors
• Youth

She remarked:

I believe that implementing laws to restrict aggressive marketing tactics by casinos, betting platforms, and video gaming sites could help increase awareness about the risks of gambling addiction. These laws could also allocate funds for counseling programs targeting vulnerable communities.

The IDHS in Illinois, also known as the Land of Lincoln, showed initiative in tackling gambling addiction by launching a year-long study on the issue in 2020.

The study results should be promptly released to the public. The IDHS expects that these findings will help identify problems and prevent future issues.

Lightfoot will announce the successful bidder for the Chicago game happening this summer.