The Rev. Douglas Fraim of the Bolivar Charge of the United Methodist Church, said the Jefferson County School Board’s endorsement of table games for Charles Town Races & Slots as a capital expenditure funding tool sends a bad message to young people.

As president of the nonprofit group Vote No Table Games, which has set up headquarters at 115 W. Washington St. in Charles Town, Fraim said he has his own “moral and ethical reasons” for opposing table games at CTRS. Members of the group, which includes teachers and horsemen, believe the track reaps the lion’s share of the benefits.

Fraim said the track's claim 500 good-paying jobs will come with the passage of table games is questionable. He figures most of the service industry work will be low paying and rely on tips. And Vote No Table Games has serious doubts about the ability of gambling to bolster the local economy.

“They come here for one reason, and that’s to lose their money,” Fraim said of those who visit Charles Town from outside the area to gamble. “They’re not going to be out in the community. The ones who are really big spenders will stay there for free, eat free and drink free.”

Fraim said gambling expansion invites addiction and financial ruin for families, and he has witnessed the trend in his own neighborhood.

The fight against table games in 2009 is a much bigger challenge for Vote No than two years ago because of the large CTRS advertising campaign and the endorsements from the school leaders and other groups, Fraim said. He frowns upon state and local governments’ increasing dependency on gambling.

“We’re teaching our young children that it’s OK to learn gambling,” he said.

The group has set up a Web site, www.VoteNoTableGames.org, and offers presentations about the impacts of table gaming.