Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Nevada lawmakers will be asked to continue fees imposed for the first time
in 2005 on slot machines to fund programs to help problem gamblers in this
wide-open gambling state. The fee, approved by the 2005 Legislature, started
out at $1 per slot machine and then rose to $2. That has brought in $2.5
million for problem gambling programs in the current two-year budget cycle.
Laura Hale, a state Health and Human Services grants manager who helps to
staff the state's Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling, said Thursday that
continuing the $2 fee during the coming two fiscal years will mean another
$3.2 million for the fledgling program. "We have made excellent progress in
the first two years," said Hale, adding that it's essential to help people
whose gambling addictions could lead to "devastating" problems such as
family breakups, loss of jobs and even criminal activity. "The best thing
about this is that people who had no access to treatment before now have
that access," said Hale. "And the long-range program potential is to do more
prevention programs." "Two years ago, it was a first," Hale said. "Many
other states have been funding these programs for years, so it's really good
that Nevada has finally gotten into this." Gov. Jim Gibbons has supported
the fee in the spending plan he has submitted to the 2007 Legislature. When
the fee plan passed in 2005 - with heavy casino industry support - it had a
"sunset" clause which requires the 2007 Legislature to take action to keep
it going. A report on use of the fees so far shows that more than half the
money was used for treatment programs while the rest was used for prevention
efforts, research and related services. More than 500 people got treatment
for gambling problems while more counselors got financial assistance to
become certified in gambling counseling. The total of such counselors now
stands at 14, and Hale said another 50 to 60 counselors could get through
the training in the coming two years. Statistics included in the report show
that nearly 20 percent of those getting treatment range in age from 25 to
34, and 22 percent range in age from 45 to 54. Also, there's a 54-46 ratio
of men to women who went through treatment. The report also shows that
nearly a quarter of those getting treatment make less than $10,000 yearly
while another quarter are in the $35,000-$75,000 income range. The document
also shows that about a third of those getting treatment are married, while
nearly a third are separated or divorced.