In our lives, it is rare to live, much less participate in, a watershed moment. But the Richmond casino referendum may be such a moment.

Every objective person knows every study shows slot ma- chine casinos are predatory toward the poor and the elderly. The proposed Richmond casino is slated to have upward of 2,000 slot machines. Upward of 90 percent of the casino “revenue” — mean- ing losses from patrons — will come from slot machines. The biggest casino is Las Vegas has far less slot machines.

Let’s be honest with ourselves: Richmond and the surrounding counties have a tragically high percentage of poor families. These families disproportionately have suffered through a his- tory of exploitation.

The people behind the proposed casino know the great bulk of the $300 million casino patrons are expected to lose will come from slot machine players living within a 30-minute drive of the casino.

Such are the economics of this proposed casino and are well known to the mayor, the Richmond City Council and key back- ers of the casino.

The casino, as proposed, will exploit Black families.

I got into politics to stop such exploitation. Those backing the casino claim my opposition is racially motivated.

People are free to have their own opinions, but the facts conclusively prove otherwise.

PAUL GOLDMAN

Richmond

The writer is executive director of Vote NO on RVA Casino.