As the economy continues to falter and budget deficits continue to swell more and more states are pursuing legalized gambling as a way to generate revenues. At last count there are 38 states that now support some type of state sponsored gambling. To the government this looks like a quick fix to the budget crisis. Unfortunately they are gambling with our future. Studies have shown that more people are gambling than ever before. And as the economy gets worse we will only see these numbers grow. (See below) As people look for that quick score to pay the bills. People who cannot afford it particularly seniors are getting caught up in the "Dollar and a Dream" hype and are now spending grocery money on scratch off or trips to casinos. More of our children watch the World Series of Poker than the World Series. World Series games don't start until almost 9:00 PM and don't end until after midnight while gambling shows are on around the clock on multiple channels. And it is only going to get worse. As the Governor looks to expand slot machines at local race tracks and LOTTO spends millions on new ad campaigns more and more people are losing their savings and in some cases even their homes. Many have already lost their retirement plans thanks to our friends on Wall Street and are now looking to gambling as a bailout. This is the worse possible time for the government to be expanding its gambling operations. But as usual they will not be able to pass up a quick fix with no regard for the future. Awhile back we asked our local electeds to support an effort to at least stop state sponsored advertising for gambling (see below) But none of them even considered it. Don't you think that the millions spent on the "Little Bit of Luck" and other ads could be put to better use? Obviously they do not think so. So they will continue to try to draw more people in to inflate their short term revenues as they continue to spend more and more on advertising and administrative costs.
As they continue to gamble with our future.
Over the past few years there has been a significant increase in the number of seniors who have taken up gambling as a new form of entertainment.
Unfortunately it is not entertainment
The gambling establishments have created various incentive programs and innovative advertising gimmicks to lure them into a dark world. The end result is a senior with a self destructive behavior pattern and low self esteem.
They constantly receive enticements such as:
Tired of staying at home with nothing to do, come down and visit us we will make you feel at home.
Free live entertainment awaits you.
Buffets and exotic restaurants
Make new friends
Not only will we pay for the transportation with coupon vouchers, we will also throw in free lunch at our buffet. You are getting a full day of entertainment and we will feed you too.
ATM machines, cash advances and line of credits are available
The result has been that many seniors are losing their pensions, losing their life savings and some even losing their lives.
In New Jersey alone on over 15% of the callers to the 1-800-GAMBLER© HOTLINE are over the age of 55.
The situation is not much better with the youth of America.
On line gambling, World Series of Poker on every day with other gambling shows on cable and now even network channels.
Texas Holdem Tournaments everywhere.
In a recent study 70% of students interviewed between the ages of 13 and 17 stated that they had gambled.
In a Florida study 12.5% of adolescents interviewed reported they had purchased a lottery ticket in the past year.
And what is the government doing about this problem…….nothing.
As a matter of fact more and more states are legalizing gambling as a means of generating revenues.
Don’t be surprised if you wake up one morning and hear about Governor’s Island becoming a casino destination.
While we know that there is nothing we can do about commercial gambling establishments (although there should be) there is something we can do about government sponsored gambling.
For example the NY State Lottery.
Why is it necessary to advertise?
Why are we going after other people to gamble?
If the state wants the lottery that is fine but instead of spending millions on advertising they should use these funds for gambling treatment and education for which funds are almost nonexistent.
Don’t they know that more people die as a result of gambling then drugs and alcohol combined?
Why the need to draw new people into this addiction.
They have warning labels on cigarettes and ban soda from schools but actively recruit people of all ages?
We hear of stores being fined for selling cigarettes to minors but when is the last time you heard of the same for someone selling lottery tickets?
Well we want something done.
We are going to continue to call on our elected officials to ask them to call for a ban on gambling advertisement similar to the one on cigarette and liquor ads.
We hope that you will join us in our effort.
We are also going to coordinate seminars with the DA’s office to schools for both parents and students to make them aware of the warning signs and preventive measures to take.
We hope to be able to make a difference.
Below is a letter we sent to our state electeds in 2008 and we have been reminding them every year since.
Hopefully we can get their attention.
Dennis McKeon
150 Greaves Lane # 312
Staten Island, NY 10308
718-966-6531
WHERE TO TURN
150-L Greaves Lane # 312
Staten Island, NY 10308
Phone: 718-966-6531 Fax: 718-966-6515
www.where-to-turn.org
January 14, 2008
State Senator Diane Savino
State Senator Andrew Lanza
Assemblywoman Janelle Hyer-Spencer
Assemblyman Michael Cusick
Assemblyman Matthew Titone
Assemblyman Lou Tobacco
District Attorney Daniel Donovan
Knowing of your concern for the youth and senior citizens I would like to ask your assistance in addressing a growing problem impacting both groups.
Over the past 10 years gambling has become a major problem with both the youth and senior populations.
Seniors have lost their life savings, their homes and in some cases even their lives after being drawn into the dream of winning it big by both the private and public gambling sectors.
The NY State Lottery spends millions on ad campaigns to draw unsuspecting seniors into the world of gambling, while the casinos lure them with promises of free meals and coped rooms.
A recent study showed that in New Jersey alone over 15% of the callers to the 1-800- Gambling Hotline were over the age of 55.
The problem is no better with the youth in America. Through online gambling and the host of poker tournaments on cable and network TV we are presenting gambling as a positive alternative to hard work and education.
A study in Florida showed that 12.5% of adolescents interviewed reported that they had purchased a lottery ticket this past year and that 70% of students between the ages of 13 and 17 stated that they had gambled.
I am sure that if studies were done in New York we would find the numbers to be similar if not higher.
I know everyone has to right to “legally gamble” and that we really cannot do anything about the casinos advertising but why does the state of NY have to contribute to this outreach.
If New York wants the lottery that’s fine but instead of spending millions on advertising to try to draw more people into gambling they should be using these funds for gambling treatment and educational programs about the dangers of gambling.
Don’t they realize that more people die from the effects of compulsive gambling then the effects of drugs and alcohol combined?
The government places warning labels on cigarettes and bans soda from schools but continues to actively recruit people of all ages with their concept of a “Dollar and a Dream”
We hear of stores being fined for selling cigarettes or beer to minors but when was the last time a store was cited for selling lottery tickets to underage kids.
We are asking for your help to address this issue.
To start would it be possible to at least propose legislation to ban advertising for state sponsored gambling?
We currently have such bans on liquor and cigarette ads.
Would it not make sense to do the same for gambling ads?
We are in the process of working with the DA’s Office to develop seminars to outreach to schools to warn students of the dangers of gambling. These seminars will also be available to parents to make them aware of the warning signs of teenage gambling.
We hope you will join us in this effort to protect our seniors and students,
We are available at your convenience to discuss this further.
Sincerely,
Dennis McKeon
Executive Director
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