My name is Kasey Binion and I am a resident of Chesterfield County and member of Manchester Richmond 699 Moose Lodge located in North Chesterfield.  I serve on the  District and State levels of our Association as well. As you consider new charitable gaming regulations, I urge you to consider all of the activities in our Lodge and community that proceeds from charitable gaming allows us to support.

Our organization, established over 100 years ago, primarily provides for the health, welfare, and education of over 200 children at our child city of Mooseheart.  Additionally, we provide shelter, healthcare, and active living for our senior members at Moosehaven.  Support of our twin cities is the cornerstone of our organization, but we also support many other at large charities that benefit our community.  As a member of the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce, we support the following charities:

Mooseheart/Moosehaven               Fisher House @ McGuire Hospital       Chesterfield Fire Station #4       

MAC Program                                     Sitter/Barfoot Rehab Center                      Manchester HS Choral Boosters

Camp Baker                                         Lonesome Dove Equestrian Center        Chesterfield Fire Station #20

Special Olympics Area 6                    Disabled American Veterans                   Richmond Animal League

American Heart Association             Chesterfield Food Bank                            Service Dogs of Virginia                        

VCU Children’s Hospital                     Youth Awareness Program                     Vetshouse Inc.

Alzheimer’s Association of GR          Forest View Rescue Squad                     Salvation Army

VCU Massey Cancer Center              Homeless Vets @McGuire Hosp.           Susan G. Komen Research

Richmond Hornets 11u Team           RVA Humble Beginnings                          Senior Games

DSAGR                                                   Chesterfield Christmas Mother             Manchester Rescue Squad

Cub Scout Pack #1892                        Boys & Girls Club                                      Virginia House at Mooseheart

NWTF                                                    Safe Surfin’ Foundation                           Chesterfield County Police Fdn.

Old Dominion Cott. Moosehaven    Chesterfield Professional Firefighters Charitable Foundation

The Gaming Machines provided at our Lodge not only benefit several other state and national charities, it helps to provide funding for payroll, maintenance, and operating costs.  Without the use of these funds, we would not be able to provide our community the financial assistance and support that we currently do. Many of our smaller lodges in the state would have to close their doors all together. Some of them are located in rural areas where government funding isn't appropriated well and a lodge is that community's only resource of immediate help.

I urge you to oppose or drastically reduce the restrictions and taxation in any future regulation of gaming in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Give us the opportunity to continue to put money directly into the hands of those nonprofits that sometimes don't have the ability to wait for government funding to come down the pipeline to keep their organizations afloat as well.  With over 80 lodges in the state, these proposed regulations will put many Virginians out of work.  

Since 1936, lodges in the Virginia Moose Association have slowly been hurt through the years because of state regulations tying their hands. Passing anything that cuts our allowance to use the funds from charitable gaming to pay for operating expenses and the new taxation will surely sever our hands from serving our communities.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter.