Gambling Addiction

The Gambling Industry only thrives when it creates ADDICTION. That's the Business Model!

What is noteworthy in the vast majority of these cases is that those accused of crimes, such as embezzlement were law-abiding citizens who contributed to their communities and worked hard. No one told them about the risks of Addiction. No one told them that's the only way Casinos profit.

From Enticing Addicts --

...Harrah's propeller heads discovered that 90 percent of Harrah's profits come from about 10 percent of its most avid customers.

Harrah's data suggests that addicted gamblers are providing a disproportionate share of all casino's profits. Which raises an uncomfortable, if moot question, What would happen to casino profits if the addicts were eliminated?

"Winner Takes All," Christina Binkley, pages 183-184


Wife of ex-Fairfield supervisor pleads guilty to stealing nearly $378,000

By Rocco LaDuca
GateHouse News Service
Posted Oct 08, 2010

Herkimer, N.Y. — The wife of the former Fairfield town supervisor admitted in Herkimer County Court Friday morning that she stole nearly $378,000 in town funds to fuel her gambling addiction.

Randi Matthews, 42, pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny Friday and will face 4 1/2 to 13 1/2 years in prison when she is sentenced by Judge Patrick Kirk on Friday, Oct. 29.

She will be prohibited from participating in any early release programs.

A judgment will also be ordered against Matthews to pay back the town’s stolen funds totaling $377,976.95, Kirk said.

While Matthews’ husband, Frank Matthews, was Fairfield town supervisor between May 2006 and November 2009, Randi Matthews admitted that she would repeatedly drain the town’s account by forging documents and tampering with public records to cover up the thefts.

After the proceeding, prosecutor Assistant District Attorney Jeff Carpenter said that Frank Matthews is still under investigaiton [sic] to determine whether he will face any criminal charges in connection with the thefts.

Randi Matthews, however, still insists that her husband was not involved, nor did he have any knowledge of what was going on, her attorney, George Aney said.

Instead, this was a gambling addiction — “Turning Stone-itis” [referring to Turning Stone Casino], as Aney described it — that she kept secret from her family, but she also knew that she would never be able to overcome the problem on her own.

“She always knew it was going to come to an end,” Aney said. “Many times she has told me that when she gambled she knew she’d ‘get caught.’”

Outside the courtroom, Frank Matthews, who also drives a bus for the West Canada Valley Central School District, said he first learned of the thefts when his wife tearfully broke down and admitted that she had a gambling addiction.

“Had we known about the problem, it would have been something we could have worked with at the time,” Frank Matthews, 59, said.

Frank Matthews also went on to say that he couldn’t have asked for a more supportive wife, who has expressed many times that she can’t wait to return to her family.

“What she did was wrong, but she’s a wonderful girl and I know she’ll be able to handle this addicdtion, [sic] and I’ll try to be there for her, too,” Frank Matthews said. “It’s hard on me because I miss her terribly.”