Hi all — I'm a reporter involved with this video gambling story at ProPublica Illinois. The story mentions video gambling addiction may be on the rise. We're looking to learn more about that directly from people affected by it. If you or someone you know compulsively plays the video slot or poker machines anywhere in the state, please consider answering a few confidential questions here: https://www.propublica.org/getinvolved/help-us-investigate-i...

By sharing your story, you'll be helping us understand this important and overlooked cost of video gambling expansion. Thank you!

-Logan Jaffe logan.jaffe@propublica.org

Logan I don't have names for you but this story is spot on, I hope the Trib and local news stations pick it up.

Video gambling is totally amok in many parts of Chicago and its environs.

For people who haven't seen it in person: even regular Mom & Pop restaurants have video slots. Donut shops. Italian sandwiches. Bars. Imagine if Subway devoted a quarter of its restaurants to video slots. It's crazy.

And watching the people who play these games it's obvious it's not rich people, it's most often (IMO) fixed-income retirees. People who can least afford it.

I'm for legalized gambling but what's going on in Illinois right now is totally bonkers. Legalizing video slots and putting them everywhere is the second dumbest idea in Illinois since Mayor Daley sold off some of the highways.

> I'm for legalized gambling

How do you prevent people who can't afford it from gambling when it's legal?

If you limit the number of places that can have the machines then it's less likely people will stumble upon them during day to day activity. People would have to deliberately drive to a casino to get them. Taxing higher also helps to reduce the number of places.

I’m for legalised gambling too.

You simply don’t. Not your problem. If an adult decides to gamble, it’s his decision and none of your business.

When he loses all his money and then needs welfare or starts mugging people it becomes my business.

If I have to get into a gunfight on the street because banning gambling machines would be against “freedom” well I guess I’m not that into freedom.

It’s about deterrance. Hardly anyone is going to attempt anything funny if you might be packing.