Proximity a Factor

Casino Proximity a Factor in Addictive Compulsive Gambling

The specter of so much wagering on Super Bowl 2011 at a predicted level of $2 Billion has raised again the question of addictive gambling and the nationwide spread of the gaming industry.

Earlier reports from Nevada confirmed the hypothesis that proximity is a factor in an individual being an addicted compulsive gambler. Those reports show that availability relates to the number of addicts and the age of beginning to gamble. Nevada at the time had double the national percentage of gamblers at 6%. Among teenagers 2% were already problem gamblers. Based on the statistics 10% of the youth of Nevada were at risk. The study was done by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).

NCPG is independent of the gaming industry. It exists as an advocate for families of problem gamblers or of addicted gamblers. It stays neutral on the issue of legalized gambling believing that addiction management is an individual problem. They advocate for services and programs for problem gamblers.

The accepted definition of a problem gambler is one whose gambling habits cause major life area disruptions in the physical, social, psychological or vocational realms. Similar to other medical conditions it may either be pathological or compulsive in the sense that it becomes increasingly addictive. Restless and irritability happen when a problem gambler attempts to stop. The increase of negative outcomes such as indebtedness, committing crimes to enable gambling, loss of family, job or house do not curb the seriously addicted gambler.

The act of gambling alters the mood and behavior of certain people just as a drink or a pill might. The adrenaline rush high becomes a demanding addiction requiring only intermittent reinforcement to sustain.

Though an individual’s lack of ability to control gambling is the root cause; businesses that profit from gambling as a profit making form of enterprise have a social obligation to not take advantage of vulnerabilities of problem gamblers. Society has the obligation to bring business behaviors in line as well. Examples might be the Tobacco industry, the distributors of alcohol, drug companies and some would add fast food establishments to the list. In relation to the gaming industry this applies to the age allowed as well as controls developed to monitor the behaviors of some individuals.

Addictive personalities may have multiple addictions such as drinking alcohol, taking drugs, gambling or sex. Nationally 1% of the population or 3 million U.S. Adults meet the criteria for pathological gambler. An additional 2 to 3% are problem gamblers meeting one or more of the criteria. Altogether the National rate is 3%. One way of looking at the stats is that 97% of American adults are able to treat it as a form of entertainment and participate responsibly alongside other activities such as golf or bowling. It is estimated that 80% of adults have gambled and 60% participate in some form of it each year. The social cost of addictive gambling including, crime and bankruptcy is put a $7 billion on a yearly basis.

Tribal councils and governments are becoming increasingly aware of the two edged sword of their gambling enterprises. They are in a unique position to permit casinos on tribal land and reap a lot of profit from cross through traffic. While utilizing the revenue to help with social programs for the local tribal members there is concern for certain social problems that appear and grow in the areas where the casinos are established. Bankrupcy, foreclosures, family abandonment and neglect in addition to drug abuse, alcoholism, juvenile delinquency, high crime and other problems have high price tags to control. Recognizing that tribes are and have a right to be responsible agencies, religious groups and advocates such as NCPG are calling upon these leaders to lead responsibly.