In the news: Problem gambling worse than thought

Expert: 2 to 3 percent of population has a gambling problem

Figures are bad news for casino industry
By Liz Benston -- Las Vegas Sun

Wednesday, March 8, 2006

The National Council on Problem Gambling kicked off an education campaign this week by noting that 2 percent to 3 percent of Americans - or about 6 to 9 million adults - have gambling problems.
Numbers can be worth a thousand words. They also can have political and social implications. That's why the National Council's estimate is bad news for the casino industry - it's two or three times as high as the 1 percent rate often cited by the industry.
The greater the percentage of problem gamblers, the tougher it is for the gaming industry to persuade states without casinos that the economic effect of gambling - jobs, tourism, and especially taxes - more than offsets the social cost of increased exposure to casino gambling.
And in states that already allow casino gambling, such as Nevada, bigger numbers make the industry seem less like a good corporate citizen, one that pays taxes, employs folks and promotes good, clean fun, and more like the tobacco and distilling industries, which sells cigarettes and liquor that can lead to cancer, alcoholism and other social ills.

The National Council's estimate is based on the most recent original research available on gambling problems nationwide, Executive Director Keith Whyte said.

Remainder of article available at: http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-other/2006/mar/08/566659859.html