Brief: Baptists threaten suit against casinos

"Sometime between 2002 and 2005 there will probably be a class action suit brought against the gambling casinos and lotteries in America to make them pay because of the liability of the product they're producing," said Paul Jones, executive director and treasurer of the Christian Action Commission for the Baptist Convention.

Although many claim the casinos have been an economic boost to Mississippi, Jones contends the industry is actually absorbing the state's tax dollars.

While the state estimates it took in $151 million in casino revenues in 1998, Jones said it lost $315 million in the cost of treatment, lost wages and failed businesses caused by addicted gamblers.

Jones said he bases his figures on an estimate of $13,200 per addicted gambler per year in treatment, lost revenue because of gambling and an estimate of 25,000 psychologically addicted gamblers in the state in 1997.

He said he expects that number to rise to about 100,000 addicted gamblers in the state by 2002 at which point he would consider filing a product liability suit against the industry.

Ernie Stebbins, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Association, which represents the industry in the state, could not be reached for comment on Jones' proposed suit.

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