Gamblor’s World

December 5, 2006, The Morning Call.

How many ‘’problem'’ or disordered gamblers are boarding the bus from Philadelphia to Atlantic City? Gov. Ed Rendell implies hardly any per bus. The research, however, suggests as many as 15.

The governor recently told the Lancaster New Era editorial board that for every one person addicted to gambling or who lost a pay check to gambling, he can show us 500 who go and have the time of their life.

I wonder how these numbers were produced. They are far out of line with the best social science research in the state and the country about the numbers of people with gambling compulsions.

Let us compare the governor’s numbers with those produced by national experts regarding the prevalence of gambling problems in the general adult population. For every 500 people there are about five pathological gamblers and 14 at-risk and problem gamblers. So, the governor’s number is nearly 20 times smaller (1 vs. 19) than what one would expect to find based on the national research.

Using estimates of the number of disordered gamblers among all adults in Pennsylvania, the scenario becomes even more distorted. Results from our Mansfield University State Survey of 2006 suggest that among 500 adult Pennsylvanians, there are 2.5 pathological gamblers and 21.5 at-risk and problem wagerers. Compared with these numbers, the governor’s number is nearly 24 times smaller (1 vs. 24)

But wait — the comparisons above were made using problem gambling rates among the general population. Among the gambling population, the rates of disordered gambling are much higher. In the governor’s scenario, only gamblers are described. So, if we stick only to gamblers in the state population and use their prevalence rate of disordered gambling, for every 500 gamblers there are about 56.5 at risk, problem and pathological gamblers. Now the governor’s number is more than 50 times smaller (1 vs. 57).

It can get a lot worse. Research shows that gambling addiction increases as the proximity to gambling decreases and the ease of gambling increases. The governor asks us to go to Philadelphia with him to see the people boarding the buses. We surveyed people in Philadelphia and found that for every 500 Philadelphia gamblers there are about 117 at-risk, problem and pathological gamblers. Now the governor’s number is more than 100 times smaller than what the research shows (1 vs. 117).

It cannot possibly get any worse can it? Oh, yes it can. The governor did not tell us about the demographic characteristics of people boarding the bus in Philly. Research shows that teenagers, males and disadvantaged members of society are more likely to have gambling problems. Taking one of these subgroups, our results suggest that among 500 African-American gamblers there would be about 153 who experience gambling problems.

It’s even worse than that. The above discussion was based on people who report gambling problems within the past year. If I were to include people who have ever had gambling problems in their lifetime, a lot of the numbers above would likely double in size. Moreover, if we look at combinations of risk factors, such as being male and a minority group member or being male and a Philadelphian, then again the rates above would increase. Don’t even ask about the problem of people underreporting (or denying) their gambling problems to survey researchers like me. That will lead me to underestimate the extent of the problem!

I believe that leaders in our state really need to become educated about and should take seriously the numbers and percentages of people who become problem gamblers in society. The national experts have shown us that these numbers are far from trivial. They rival those of people who abuse and are dependent on drugs. Who is going to fight the war on gambling addiction when we all are pushing for profits from gambling to lower our taxes? As we have done as a society with drugs and alcohol, we — especially top government servants — need to properly inform and educate people about the risks connected to gambling.

Let us start down this road by immediately setting up a task force to investigate and reduce gambling dependency. Perhaps we should even call it the ‘’Pennsylvania Gaming Addiction Board'’ before the rest of the expected 60,000 slot machines are put in our backyards. And, don’t use a percentage of the profits from casinos to support this group!

Timothy J. Madigan, Ph.D., is associate professor of sociology at Mansfield University in Mansfield, Pa.

‘’Who is going to fight the war on gambling addiction when we all are pushing for profits from gambling to lower our taxes?'’

Acknowledging the fact that there will be lots of problems should have been the first indication that this (gambling) may not be such a great idea.

Copyright © 2006, The Morning Call

December 6 2006

If you are doing a story on the COLLEGE BOWL GAMES you might want to look at betting on the games and the issue of compulsive gambling. I wonder how many college students will have a bet on the games and whether or not some athletes also have bets on the games as well.

With all the Bowl Games being played and the media hype about them, and compulsive gambling being an impulse disorder,

Compulsive Gamblers are very vulnerable, at this time of the year, says Arnie Wexler.

The National Gambling Study Commission said that there are “5 million compulsive gamblers and 15 million at risk in U.S.”.

Get the real scoop — talk to Arnie Wexler who is one of the nations’ leading experts on the subject of compulsive gambling and a recovering compulsive gambler himself, who placed his last bet on April 10, 1968.

He has worked with college & professional athletes who had gambling addictions. And has spoken on many college campuses over the years.It is easier to place a bet than it is to buy cigarettes or a can of beer on college campuses all over the country.

He has been involved in helping compulsive gamblers for the last 38 years. Through the years, Wexler has spoken to more compulsive gamblers than anyone else in America.

Arnie has spoken to students who gamble in college day and night. They even gamble during class, and it even goes on in high school lunch rooms. According to a Harvard study a few years ago, 4.67% of young people have a gambling problem. Experts tell us that the earlier a person starts to gamble, the greater the risk of them becoming a compulsive gambler. In another survey, 96% of adult male recovering gamblers stated that they started gambling before the age of 14.

Data from National Hot lines show:

Forty eight percent of the people who gamble, bet on sports.

25% of calls came from youth under 25 years of age

12% of calls came from senior citizens

40% of calls came from female gamblers

The average gambler owed more than $40,000 at the time they called for help. Anyone who needs help for a gambling problem can call our 24 hour national help line

1-888-LAST BET

Province proceeds with strategy on problem gambling

Last Updated: Wednesday, December 6, 2006 | 10:15 AM NT

CBC News

A change to video lottery terminals in Newfoundland and Labrador has led to a small drop in the number of players.

Atlantic Lottery Corp., acting on a provincial government campaign to curb problem gambling, has removed the “stop” button on VLT machines so players can’t stop a machine from spinning.

Stop buttons are being removed from video lottery terminals in Newfoundland and Labrador.

(CBC)

Now, they must wait for each spin to run its course.

Renee Ryan, the addictions consultant for the province, says removing the button has slowed down the speed of play.

“If people are playing the machines slower, obviously they’re going to be going through somewhat less money,” Ryan told CBC News.

“It will have some impact on how long they’re gambling and the amount of money that they’re gambling.”

Atlantic Lotto says that since staff started removing stop buttons in April, the number of people using VLTs in Newfoundland and Labrador has dropped by about 1.5 per cent.

The corporation, which is owned by the four Atlantic Canadian governments, expects VLT revenues in this province to drop by about $6 million over the course of this fiscal year.

Addictions consultant Renee Ryan said removing stop buttons on VLTs should curb problem gambling.

(CBC)

In 2005, the Newfoundland and Labrador government outlined a plan to curb problem gambling. It intends to remove about 15 per cent of VLTs over a five-year period.

About 90 machines have already been removed, leaving about 2,500 VLTs in bars and lounges across the province.

Eric Lawlor, a St. John’s resident who plays VLTs occasionally, said the removal of the stop buttons has not gone over well at some bars.

“A lot of people that I’ve spoken to are actually disappointed with the change. They thought they had control of the the game by stopping it, but actually they have no control whatsover,” Lawlor said.

No change in outcomes: Atlantic Lotto

Paula Dyke of Atlantic Lotto said removing the stop button has made no difference to the outcome of a VLT spin.

“The random play generator in that machine at that point has to determine the outcome of that spin, so hitting the stop button — to stop the play before the natural end of the spin — never ever had any impact on the outcome of the game,” said Dyke, director of public affairs and corporate communications.

Lawlor doesn’t personally have a problem with the change. In fact, he would prefer a stronger response.

“Get rid of them! In my opinion, the best thing is to move them out onto George Street,” he said, referring to the popular string of bars and clubs in downtown St. John’s.

A November 2005 for the Newfoundland and Labrador government found that VLT users were at significantly greater risk of developing addictions than other gamblers.

Copyright © CBC 2006

Last Updated: Friday, February 3, 2006 | 6:47 AM NT

CBC News

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Minister John Ottenheimer admits that people with addictions are waiting too long to get the help they need.

However, Ottenheimer is also defending government efforts to help people who have become addicted to gambling.

In some parts of the province, people with addictions - including those who have become hooked on video lottery terminals - have to wait six months to see a counsellor.

FROM FEB. 2, 2006: VLT addicts wait too long for help: advocate

Ottenheimer says waits of that duration are unacceptable.

At the same time, he said, the provincial government is taking action.

Randy Collins

“We recently announced our addictions campaign, our public awareness campaign. We have included an addictions consultant for the Department of Health and Community Services, and we recently hired five new addictions counsellors,” he said.

Labrador West MHA Randy Collins, who has campaigned to ban VLTs in the province, does not think those efforts respond to people’s needs.

“More money is, of course, the answer,” Collins said.

“More money means that you have more therapists, it means that you have more locations, and it means there would be a variety of services offered.”

Ottenheimer added that other government decisions should help curb gambling.

For instance, the provincial government has capped the number of VLTs in the province, and is limiting to five the number of machines an establishment can lease.

Last year, the provincial government announced more than $700,000 in additional funding for gambling services.

Ottenheimer will not say if that will continue. He said government plans will be revealed in the next budget, which is expected in less than two months.

VLTs are estimated to generate about $70 million per year for the provincial treasury.

Copyright © CBC 2006

HALIFAX Herald, Thursday December 7, 2006

Problem gambling could be a factor in at least half the domestic violence cases reported to programs for abused women and abusive men in Cumberland County, and a group there is studying the correlation.

The Cumberland County Transition House Association has a $10,000 grant from the Nova Scotia Gaming Foundation to study the connection and design intervention programs.

An association spokesperson wasn’t available late Wednesday afternoon, but the foundation’s annual report released Wednesday says the 50 per cent figure is “alarming.” The report says that could be a conservative estimate, since it was only compiled informally, but the study will verify the links.

Liberal MLA Diana Whalen said it was significant the statistic came out on the day dedicated to recognizing and eliminating violence against women.

“I think it’s really an important piece of information,” she said.

The foundation provides funding to community groups, district health authorities and the Health Promotion and Protection Department for gambling research, education and treatment.

© 2006 The Halifax Herald Limited

Darren Bernhardt, The StarPhoenix

Thursday, December 07, 2006

A Martensville man who committed two armed robberies and then turned himself in to police is going to a federal penitentiary for the next two years and four months.

Mitchell Grenier, 23, stood solemn-faced, but several of the family members and friends who fi lled the gallery began sobbing moments after Justice Mona Dovell delivered the sentence. She also ordered Grenier to submit a DNA sample to the national databank.

“I clearly acknowledge that I’ve caused a lot of grief and trauma. I’m . . . deeply sorry for what I’ve done,” Grenier told the court.

The sentence is less than the three years Crown prosecutor Robin Ritter had sought, but signifi - cantly harsher than defence lawyer Aaron Fox’s recommendations.

Fox suggested a conditional sentence of two years less a day, to be served in the community. He noted Grenier’s criminal record is a minor one — breaches and possession of a controlled substance — and the robberies were motivated by “the demons Mitch is trying to deal with,” not a desire to rob anyone.

In addition to gambling issues, Grenier has a substance and alcohol abuse problem, court heard.

But Fox said bail offi cers working with Grenier “do not see any benefi t from incarcerating him. In their opinion, Mitch is manageable in the community.” Ritter noted the robberies occurred while Grenier was already on probation for previous offences, and Dovell referred to an assessment report that listed Grenier as an immediate risk to re-offend.

“A conditional sentence is not appropriate under the circumstances,” Dovell said, denouncing Grenier’s actions in pointing a fi rearm at innocent people.

She did, however, give him “great credit” for turning himself in and confessing to the crimes.

“It is a great shame he is before the court today and he knows that,” Dovell said.

The robberies occurred on Aug. 21, 2005, after Grenier had a run of bad luck playing VLTs. The previous day he had won $500, but 24 hours later he had blown it all, including $50 borrowed from his grandmother.

According to the statement of facts, Grenier went to his family’s acreage and took a coat, backpack and .22 long-barrelled rifl e. It was a scheme he had devised during another low point but never carried out.

He removed the licence plate from his pickup truck and travelled the back roads into Saskatoon.

He pulled into the Mohawk gas station on Idylwyld Drive North at 7:55 p.m. and went in wearing a ski mask and holding the gun.

He gestured at a female employee to go to the cash register, but she ran into a back storage room and Grenier fl ed without taking anything.

At 8:20 p.m., he arrived at the Shell station on Thatcher Avenue and went in with the same disguise.

He levelled the gun at the chest of the clerk, tossed the backpack on the counter and demanded all the cash from the register. He left with $150.

Back in Martensville shortly afterward, he confessed to his brother and then to his family, who called a lawyer friend. The next day Grenier gave himself up to police.

dbernhardt@sp.canwest.com

© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2006

© 2006 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.

Coquitlam Now, Thursday, December 07, 2006, Vancouver Sun

COQUITLAM - Great Canadian Casinos’ bid to serve alcohol on the gambling floor of its United Boulevard location has cleared a preliminary hurdle, as Coquitlam council approved first reading and agreed to let the issue go to public hearing.

Great Canadian, which recently expanded its Boulevard casino by adding a show theatre and increasing the number of slot machines to 950, is allowed to serve alcohol in areas adjoining the gaming floor, but not to patrons at gambling machines and tables.

The issue is divisive, because anti-gambling groups say serving alcohol to patrons on the floor increases the amount of money they spend, as well as the problems associated with addictive gambling.

After Coun. Brent Asmundson moved a motion to give the liquor application first reading, Coun. Fin Donnelly said there’s a need for an independent research facility to study the effects of gaming on communities, which a group called Citizens Examining the Social Impact of Gambling in B.C. is calling for.

Mayor Maxine Wilson said she’s “torn” on the issue of whether liquor should be served on the gaming floor, and again raised her concern that the casino’s earlier plan to build a hotel may not be realized.

“To me, it’s very important how this casino markets its product,” she said.

“The [Red Robinson Show Theatre] is a wonderful experience, but what you lack is the ability for people to get away and have an entertainment experience and that’s why I questioned your willingness to proceed with a hotel and make some kind of commitment with that.”

A public hearing is expected to take place on Jan. 24.

ON THE BOULEVARD

Mayor Maxine Wilson of Coquitlam says she is ‘torn’ on the issue of allowing liquor to be served on the floor of Boulevard Casino.

© The Vancouver Sun 2006

Thursday December 7, 04:14 PM, Yahoo! Australia & NZ Pty Limited.

A Victorian judge has blasted gaming authorities for allowing Melbourne’s Crown Casino to reward a thieving gambling addict with luxury prizes.

County Court Judge Roland Williams made the comments on Thursday as he sentenced mother of two Kate Leanne Jamieson to a minimum four years in jail for stealing millions of dollars from her employer, Bendigo Bank.

Jamieson, 39, of suburban Lalor, was funding a $2,600-per-hour poker machine addiction by the time she was caught, fuelled by the VIP treatment Crown gave her for losing vast amounts of money.

Judge Williams said a partial account of Jamieson’s losses showed she blew $19,000 at the Casino in 2001, $120,000 in 2002, $857,000 in 2003 and $580,000 in the first five months of 2004.

Despite this, the casino did not question how Jamieson could afford to lose and offered her no referral to counselling, Judge Williams said.

“(It is) sad that the availability of gambling in this state is such that you found it so easy to turn to as your outlet and, once started, you so readily became trapped by the gimmicky enticements and rewards which seem to be accepted as part of the regime,” Judge Williams said.

“How a so-called civilised society can allow and offer a mindless operation of poker machines to witless members of the public under the euphemism of gaming and entertainment is no doubt a question for the sociologists of this world.”

Crown gave Jamieson tickets to the Grand Prix and Australian Tennis Open, as well as limousine rides, free meals and entry to its exclusive Mahogany Room.

Judge Williams said these rewards came as Jamieson was domestically unhappy and “gambling more and more and losing more and more”.

He said Jamieson’s crimes were mind boggling.

In at least 4,000 transactions she shifted $22 million dollars while working for the bank as a loans officer between mid-2001 and May 2004.

Her total net theft, and suspected loss, was $3.5 million.

Judge Williams said Jamieson had also made choices despite her addiction.

“You didn’t have to ignore your partner’s concern about your spending and his suggestion you seek counselling,” he said.

Jamieson pleaded guilty to 13 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and 23 counts of theft.

She was sentenced to a maximum seven years in jail.

Outside court, Jamieson’s lawyer Bernie Balmer questioned how much tax was paid on the $3.5 million and whether that should be used to create codes of conduct to identify gambling addicts and prevent them ending up in jail.

Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Australia & NZ Pty Limited.