“The house always wins.”

We’ve all heard that phrase as it applies to casinos. And it can be applied to the expansion of gambling in Connecticut as well.

The house always wins — so who loses?

Property owners see their home values decrease.

Communities see increases in crime, traffic, drunk and impaired driving.

Local businesses see people spend money in the casino instead of in the local economy.

Vulnerable residents — seniors, low-income residents, and the addicted — are enticed by the glitz of the casino and often succumb to their lure.

When Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed the casino expansion bill into law, I noted that a casino somewhere in Fairfield County could one day be our reality. When he signed it, Gov. Malloy should have said, “See you in court,” because that’s where this issue will be for years and years. He placed a bad bet on a bad bill.

Mudrick and I are part of a diverse coalition of religious and grassroots groups comprised of Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Muslim, Methodists and Baptists. We have undertaken what many call a David vs. Goliath fight against the expansion of gambling in Connecticut.

In the face of an overwhelmingly powerful and well-funded pro-gambling expansion lobby, we are emphasizing the following points:

Casinos are a declining industry. We are over-saturated with casinos as it is. Despite a festive grand opening on Feb. 8, Rivers Casino in Schenectady, New York, has taken in about 25 percent less in gross gaming revenue than its projections.

Connecticut needs to be more creative in growing our economy and should instead focus on cultivating manufacturing, health care and biotechnology. Why are we looking to more gambling as a panacea to our problems?

Finally, look at Atlantic City. Now, some want to bring that devastation to Bridgeport? No thanks.

Because the house never loses, I will continue to raise awareness about the costs of expanded gambling. I will not stop speaking out for the victims, their affected families and the communities affected by addiction.

State Sen. Tony Hwang, a Republican, represents the 28th District of Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport. See www.NoMoreCasinosInCT.

org. Contact him at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov or 800-842-1421.

FAIRFIELD –  State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) and State Rep. Brenda Kupchick (R-132) hosted a Sep. 18 public forum at the McKinley School Cafeteria to discuss recent changes to the state’s 8-30g affordable housing law and next steps for Fairfield’s Affordable Housing Commission.

Sen. Hwang, who serves as Co-Chair of the General Assembly’s Housing Committee, and Rep. Kupchick, who is the lead House Republican on the Housing Committee, were integral in the bipartisan negotiations to craft the new law which gives towns like Fairfield more incentives to achieve a moratorium on affordable housing.

The new law makes several critical reforms to restore the ability of many communities throughout Connecticut to make comprehensive zoning and planning decisions.

For more information, contact Sen. Hwang at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov or Rep. Kupchick at Brenda.Kupchick@cga.ct.gov .

Attached photo, left to right:

Sen. Tony Hwang, Fairfield Director of Community and Economic Development Mark Barnhart, and Rep. Brenda Kupchick address area residents during the Sep. 18 Affordable Housing Forum in Fairfield.

State Sen. Tony Hwang, R-Fairfield, issued the following statement after MGM on Sep. 18 announced plans to build a casino in Bridgeport:

“When Gov. Malloy signed the casino expansion bill into law, I noted that a casino somewhere in Fairfield County could one day be our reality.

“I said that Gov. Malloy placed his bet.  He signed a bad bill.

“When he signed it, Gov. Malloy should have said, ‘See you in court,’ because that’s where this issue will be for years and years.

“Economically, it makes little sense to expand casino gambling when the Northeast faces a growing casino glut.  You can’t base a successful, sustainable economy on gambling.

“And what about the human costs?   Casinos spread gambling addiction, debt, bankruptcies, and crime. We cannot ignore the societal costs that gambling has brought to Connecticut: The families that have been torn apart, the lost hopes, and the suicides.

“I will continue to raise awareness about the costs of expanded gambling and speak out for the victims.

“A diverse coalition of religious and grassroots groups has joined me.  The Coalition Against Casino Expansion in Connecticut(www.NoMoreCasinosInCT.org) is comprised of Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Muslim, Methodists and Baptists.

“We have undertaken what many call a ‘David vs. Goliath’ fight, but this is a fight worth having, and we will not give up.”

*Sen. Hwang represents Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport .  On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com.  He can be reached at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov and at 800-842-1421.