Anti-gambling leader urges community to reject casino

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 | 9:37 a.m.

GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- A national leader in the fight against expansion of legalized gambling encouraged opponents of a proposed slots casino and spa near this historic town.

"This is bigger than just Pennsylvania now ... because of where they've chosen to put it," the Rev. Tom Grey, executive director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, said at a public meeting Monday night. "It's a definitive battle in terms of how far America is prepared to go with gambling."

Grey was joined by representatives of the Civil War Preservation Trust and the National Parks Conservation Association, which oppose the casino.

"We don't think this is compatible with one of the more important historic places in the nation," said Jim Lighthizer, president of the preservation trust, which has contributed to the preservation of battle sites across Route 30 from the proposed casino location.

David LeVan, president of the Chance Enterprises investment syndicate, has said the site would attract bettors from the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., areas as well as from Gettysburg's tourist traffic.