Anti-Gambling Zealot Wins $25,000 in Sweepstakes

An anti-gambling activist from Chicago that's spent decades fighting the activity hit it big this week when she won a sweepstakes contest for $25,000 at a gambling cafe.

Kathy Gilroy has had a long past of fighting gambling, having previously shut down a Veterans of Foreign Wars raffle in Illinois that had raised $1.6 million. She claims that gambling can lead to crime, suicide, addiction, and bankruptcy, but has no qualms about entering sweepstakes. In the past she's won trips through sweepstakes drawings, and she participates because she doesn't need to put money in to enter.

Upon being notified that she won the drawing Gilroy was conflicted, but not conflicted enough to turn down the money. Instead, she called her pastor and asked if she should give it back. The advice? Keep it.

Gilroy's decision has raised some eyebrows from others in the community, especially the VFW Commander Jerry Zebrowski, whose operation was shut down. Speaking about the matter he said, "It's ironic that someone who's anti-gambling would enter something like that. That's a little hypocrisy there, don't you think?"

Defending her decision Gilroy said, "It's the gambling I oppose, not the sweepstakes."