Casino Foes Strike Back With Allegedly Funny Video

The above was commissioned by Casino Free Philadelphia, the group protesting casinos that — since the question was bumped off the ballot — will be holding its own vote on May 15 asking Philadelphians if they want casinos in the city. (Gee, I wonder who’s going to win the vote.)

The video arrived with a press release from CFP, titled: “CASINO-FREE PHILA USES HUMOR TO HIT BACK AT SUGARHOUSE.” This, of course, prepared me that no humor would be involved in hitting back at SugarHouse. Ha ha! He has a combover! And he’s gambling in a church! I get it!

None of this stopped the release from touting its huge gains among the bloggerati:

Numerous bloggers have supported the casino referendum, including Chris Bowers of myDD.com, Philebrity, and YPP bloggers. Bloggers and online journalists like PhillyIsFunny have used heavy (and sometimes crude) satire to talk about casinos, which such titles as “Council Approves Slots Referendum, Rendell Pees Self” or Philebrity’s “When Cockblocking Goes Wrong: Street Gets His Veto Veto’ed!”

The casinos, confused by this press release, apparently decided they needed to respond with an even lamer idea of their own, i.e. a pro-casino rally yesterday. Yes, a bunch of union workers and guys in suits put aside their differences and banded together to rally for casinos to be built in Philadelphia in what one observer (me) called “the saddest protest ever.”

Coming soon, “older Pennsylvanians” will be protesting for a new lottery instant game featuring Gus the Groundhog, as this will allow them to reap even more benefits from the numbers.

Full Casino Free Philadelphia release after the jump.

CASINO-FREE PHILA USES HUMOR TO HIT BACK AT SUGARHOUSE

Church Casino Video Rises to 6th Place on international comedy section of YouTube

Philadelphia, PA, May 8, 2007 — On Monday morning Casino-Free Philadelphia unveiled a new YouTube video poking fun at the absurdity of the casino industry and its highly funded public relations campaign. The video was made by Kevin Nalty, of Cubebreak and WillVideoForFood.com, who has a devoted following for his humorous political satire. Within 24 hours, nearly 5,000 people had watched the video and gave it the 6th highest rating in today’s YouTube comedy category.

SugarHouse Casinos has been mounting a major campaign for voter support in its plans to build on North Delaware Avenue. Residents throughout Philadelphia came home on Wednesday to an unwelcome bit of telemarketing on their answering machines, and on Friday political campaign-style mailers arrived in mailboxes.

Casino-Free Philadelphia is responding with an effective earned media campaign. The group is reaching out to area bloggers and creative professionals to help debunk the misinformation being spread by the Casino industry’s highly paid consultants, and to promote the PhillysBallotBox.org citizens’ ballot which gives Philadelphians a vote on imposing minimum standards on casinos.

Numerous bloggers have supported the casino referendum, including Chris Bowers of myDD.com, Philebrity, and YPP bloggers. Bloggers and online journalists like PhillyIsFunny have used heavy (and sometimes crude) satire to talk about casinos, which such titles as “Council Approves Slots Referendum, Rendell Pees Self” or Philebrity’s “When Cockblocking Goes Wrong: Street Gets His Veto Veto’ed!”

The release of the YouTube video represents a new stage in online campaigning by Casino-Free Philadelphia. They expect more YouTube ads to be released.

In under one week, PhillysBallotBox.org will ask voters whether Philadelphia should restrict casinos from being located within 1500 feet of homes, parks and schools. While the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck the question from the official ballot approximately a month before the election, Casino-Free Philadelphia is organizing a nonpartisan citizens’ ballot to allow registered voters to vote YES or NO on the question.

Organizers say the citizens’ ballot will create a political mandate on the need for minimum standards in casino development. They continue to claim there is not rationale for putting a casino this close to people’s homes.

Pro-casino forces rally near City Hall [Inquirer]