Southeastern Pennsylvania Citizens Against Gambling has formally requested intervention against the proposal of Valley Forge Convention Partners LLP to put slot machine gambling into the convention complex in Upper Merion, Montgomery County. If approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, intervention will create, for Southeastern Pennsylvania Citizens Against Gambling, full status in the application process, including at hearings.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Citizens Against Gambling, also known as S.E.P.C.A.G, opposes the proposal for gambling in any location in the Valley Forge area, and in the region overall, because of the negative effects on quality of life, traffic, crime rate, bankruptcies, domestic violence, the suicide rate, driving under the influence, and the bad example that township-scale gambling places before youth.

We also oppose gambling because of negative effects on Valley Forge National Historical Park, including traffic, noise, air quality, and detraction and disrespect to the historic and patriotic atmosphere of the Park and the region overall, including by the infliction of a gambling atmosphere and clientele on tourists staying at the hotel-convention center, located across the street.

The opposition to the introduction of slots does not stop there. Citizens opposing gambling statewide are quick to point out that the gambling legislation of 2004 and 2006 falls far below all prior standards relevant to this sort of community-changing legislation. S.E.P.C.A.G. objects in their petition to a noticeable lack of enforcement, and an ethical vacuum, which persist in the proceedings on gambling matters, since the law's passing.

Upper Merion residents, and those of Tredyffrin, Radnor, and Lower Providence, especially, stand to lose substantial ground in their quality of life from the proposal, and may have been intentionally discouraged, by appeal Courts' decisions of the past decade downplaying Upper Merion Township's appeals against development of the Gulph Road golf course, and rejecting party status to the community group opposing that development. The government shouldn’t cater to the agenda of special interest groups, and shouldn't allow an absence of enforcement, to force an agenda on the public. Victimization of the public here may actually be accompanied by signposts intentionally suggesting that basic rights to voice in government are second to those of the special interests. S.E.P.C.A.G. has also challenged the proposal for a new slots license for Bushkill in the Poconos, which we claim is duplicative, unreasonable, and saturating, and because of ill effects likely to occur on traffic, the environment, families, and a tarnishing of the image of Pennsylvania and it's tourism, which has enormous draw and allure, and is debilitated by the vice of gambling.

It is clear also that area college and university students stand likely to be affected by intoduction of gambling, and that the intent of proponents to saturate the region with gambling is likely to cause voluminous advertising, which would futher influence the community and the young, all to benefit a leisure activity that has no positive effects on the economy, being as it is, a siphon, and little else. S.E.P.C.A.G. has applauded the efforts in Congress up to present to prevent internet gambling, and has urged all Pennsylvanians to contact their congressmen in discouraging efforts to rejuvenate it.

The great majority of citizens in this area and in Southeastern Pennsylvania's nine counties agree that the negatives of gambling are too detrimental to be balanced by any positives. Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, and surroundings have great reason to object to this intrusion. S.E.P.C.A.G. has received nothing but encouragement and thanks from the regions' hundreds of congregations, veterans, historical societies, and the numerous other groups and citizens concerned with liberty and preservation of our comforts, and rights to responsible governing. If you wish to receive our updates and alerts please email us at or call 610-688-9471.

We continue to emphasize that since Pennsylvania has no provision for a referendum on amendments to the law, lawmakers and all enforcement agencies have a great responsibility to uphold the welfare of all citizens and to never transgress basic rights and principles, yet this is what is occurring in the passing of the Act, and in the current decisions. We cannot pretend that this vice is easy to implant and harmless to society; this is fantasy.

S.E.P.C.A.G. recommends that each citizen check with their political candidates this October and November. Some candidates have specific positions on the negative aspects of gambling. This is a telling issue and deserves to be used as part of one's decision making process. If a candidate is an incumbent, citizens should check their representative's record and how the representative voted on the gambling act: Act 71 of 2004, and the representative's positions taken as a member of Legislative committees.

The Hearing on the proposals for Valley Forge and Bushkill, are scheduled for October 22, 2008 & October 23, 2008, at the State Museum in Harrisburg. If you wish to carpool or have any questions, contact us at or call 610-688-9471.