Delegates to South Carolina’s Southern Baptist convention have voted to encourage pastors to teach congregations about the “destructive force” of legalized gambling. The resolution also encourages citizens to express their views to lawmakers.
It specifically addresses video poker and proposals to use its proceeds for public education.
Democratic gubernatorial challenger Jim Hodges, the House minority leader, advocates a fee increase for video poker as a way to finance an ambitious statewide college scholarship program. Republican Gov. David Beasley, a Southern Baptist, opposes the idea.
Carey Crantford, spokesman for the state’s Coin Operators Association, said he would rely on people to make up their own minds about the video poker industry, which was legalized in South Carolina about eight years ago.
