As a local business we are often approached by gaming machine vendors. The sales pitch is that they’re “good to bringing people into your store” and “a percentage of the earnings goes to funds funds Georgia schools”, and even, “well, if you don’t do it someone else will and they will make the money”. A gaming machine can bring in thousands of dollars every month, why wouldn’t we do it? It’s simple: we’re a business and we need to make money in order to stay open but it’s one thing to charge our customers for a service we provide. It’s a completely different thing to encourage gambling and participate in a system that is guaranteed to take the players’ money while giving them nothing in return.
When Jordan was approached about putting gaming machines in his Laundromat he refused immediately. “I don’t care how much money they could bring in, I want this to be a safe a positive space for families and I also want us to help the community, not just take their money any way we can.”