342,000 Gambling Addicts

Editorial: Problem gamblers will still need help

The reduction in the number of calls to the statewide gambling help line last year shouldn't be interpreted as a sign that a corner has been turned in the battle against problem gambling. The factors that have contributed heavily to the increase in this addiction remain.

The Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling announced that the calls to its help line dropped from 14,380 in 2010 to 13,528 last year. But the same organization reported the average reported debt from the calls last year was $157,100, a shocking increase from the $43,800 average reported debt in 2010.

Even more sobering is the estimate that there are an estimated 342,000 problem or compulsive gamblers in the state.

These are statistics of a social problem that require a place in the public consciousness. There are too many factors that contribute to problem gambling remaining in our midst to let this issue be ignored.

There are numerous gambling venues in Northeastern Wisconsin — casinos, convenience outlets with scratch-off cards, taverns with slot machines. Many of these places provide a social dimension to our lives in addition to the entertainment that comes with gambling.

The state and multistate lotteries, with their multimillion dollar fantasies, are among the bait for would-be problem gamblers.

Major sporting events always will increase the lure of gambling. The Super Bowl is one of them, and it is an event that takes on a higher profile here because of the Green Bay Packers and their obvious connection to the event. But regular football, baseball and basketball games are fodder for betting.

A natural contributor to an increase in problem gambling is the economy. As personal finances suffer, too many people look for a quick fix through gambling and too often add more financial stress to their lives.

This societal issue cannot be ignored. The worst of problem gambling can lead to crimes such as theft and fraud. Its effects can contribute to domestic abuse, bankruptcy and suicide.

With the problem obvious and potentially growing, it is encouraging that the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling, headquartered in Green Bay, is offering training sessions for anyone wishing to learn how to combat the problem or assist people suffering from the addiction. Information is available at www.wi-problemgamblers.org.

Gambling is here to stay. So are the negative effects that will result from it, so the public must remain diligent in the face of this growing addiction.