More gambling but not more money to fight gambling addiction

And so the predictable Race to the Bottom continues with the expansion of venues....

More gambling but not more money to fight gambling addiction
Ohio House bill prepares state for video slots at race tracks
Story by GRANT ENGLE

The Ohio House is expected to vote this week on a bill that would expand gambling in Ohio -- beyond the four big-city casinos.

The bill would organize the new video slot machines at the state’s horse tracks, extend the hours for charitable bingo and increase the state’s ability to oversee and investigate gambling.

But a provision that would have added to the pool of money to fight problem gambling did not make it past a committee vote. Advocates had hoped to collect 2 percent of the revenue from race track slots for organizations that help gambling addicts.

Keith Whyte is the executive director for the National Council on Problem Gambling. He says any time gambling expands, more money should go toward educating and treating people with problems.