A collection of anti-gambling groups and state legislators called for a moratorium on gambling expansion in New York on Monday, just one week before Gov. George Pataki is set to release his budget.

The Coalition Against Gambling in New York said that the spread of gambling is detrimental to communities both socially and economically. All groups agreed that for various reasons, gambling growth must be stopped.

"Since Pataki became governor, we have seen the largest expansion of casino gambling in the history of the state. Casino gambling is not a means to economic prosperity," said Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo.

Shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Pataki and the Legislature passed a package of bills that authorized the creation of six new casinos — three in western New York and three in the Catskills region — along with video slot machines at horse racing tracks.

Two casinos have been built so far: in Niagara Falls and in Cattaraugus County. Hoyt said he's seen firsthand the effects of casinos on local economies.

"Niagara Falls was a struggling city when the casino was built and it's in even worse condition now," Hoyt said.

And Pataki is calling for more expansion. Last year he called for the creation of eight video lottery terminal parlors — with electronic slotlike machines. Some legislators expect the Republican governor to renew that idea when he unveils his 2005-06 budget proposal on Jan. 18.

Also, in December, Pataki reached compacts to create two more casinos in the Catskill region, bumping the total number of authorized casinos in the area to five.

The governor said the deals would increase jobs in the region and prevent New York from losing gambling revenue to Connecticut and New Jersey.

A moratorium would see a halt in all further gambling expansion, but would not put a stop to any casinos or video lottery terminals already in existence.

According to the New York Council on Problem Gambling, 750,000 New Yorkers suffer from problem gambling. With the expansion of casino gambling, they expect the number to rise.

Many are calling for the federal government to step in and bring its force to bear.

"What we really need is a federal intervention plan, which calls for a moratorium on gambling in the U.S.," said John Warren Kindt, a professor at the University of Illinois and a noted expert on the economics of gambling.

"Actually, they should just roll it all back — get rid of gambling. It destabilizes the U.S. economy," he added.

The Coalition Against Gambling in New York contends that it destabilizes the local economies as well.

According to studies by the coalition, three dollars leave for every one dollar a casino brings to the community.

Also reported is a loss of two to three jobs for every casino job created.

The coalition also sees casino gambling as way of taxing the public without calling it a tax.