NIAGARA FALLS — In New York, $9.5 billion is spent on gambling every year, whether it’s on the slot machines at the Seneca Niagara Casino or scratch-off lottery tickets at the local Wilson Farms.
When all is said and done, the state takes in $2.1 billion from gambling each year. It’s an industry that brings in a whole lot of money for the state.
It’s also an industry that creates a whole host of problems, chief among them, gambling addiction.
While no one’s really sure of the number, it’s estimated in the United States that 1 percent to 3 percent of the population are pathological gamblers and 2 percent to 5 percent are compulsive gamblers.
That’s probably just the tip of the iceberg. There’s also things like bankruptcies and associated crimes that spike when gambling becomes a problem.
Knowing that New York brings in billions off gambling, is much being done to address the problems it
creates?
Not really. In New York, $3.3 million is spent on gambling treatment — a tiny fraction of what the state makes.
Closer to home, officials at Seneca Niagara Casino won’t say how much they provide for gambling addiction treatment or prevention. Hopefully, they’re doing a little better.
But no matter what the Senecas are doing, our real problem is with government officials.
Since it was announced that the casino would be opening in the Falls, state and local officials have been clawing at whatever percentage the Senecas were sending the state’s way. Afterward, they trip all over each other to take credit for bringing in the millions.
But what about when it comes to helping alleviate some of the negative problems the casino creates?
We pretty much get silence.
While officials don’t say much, their actions do, and it’s not very good.
About $2.1 billion comes in thanks to gambling — $3.1 million goes out to help those in gambling’s grip. That’s right around 0.15 percent.
That’s not enough by far.
As problems associated with gambling continue to rise, the problems it creates will end up costing everyone a whole lot more.
Gambling
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Chuck Branham
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August 14, 2006
HOOKED ON GAMBLING: Cost goes beyond money
More needs to be done to address problems
- Gambling
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NIGHTLIFE: A casino caper
This intrepid reporter recently spent all day at the three Niagara Falls casinos — the Seneca Niagara Casino in New York and the Casino Niagara and Fallsview Casino in Ontario — with the vague idea of immersing myself in the world for as long as possible.
It’s not like I had never been in a casino before, but I thought some new experiences could be gleamed from hopping around the gambling havens like a tourist. I also hoped to win lots of money. In lieu of that, I didn’t want to lose any more than $75. - LANE: Enjoy the perfect imperfections of brackets If you spent your Sunday night (or Friday morning) tearing up your NCAA Tournament bracket sheet, don’t feel too bad.
- LANE: Cash out at casino while you can still cash in Everyone has one of “those relatives” who just can’t seem to get enough of the casino.
- LANE: Big football games mean bigger bets What do Peyton Manning and Las Vegas have in common? They will both do anything possible to make a dollar.
- CASINO: Senecas to turn over records The Seneca Nation of Indians President Maurice John Sr. said Friday the nation will respond to a subpoena from the National Indian Gaming Commission that is seeking records about how gambling revenues are spent.
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GAMING: Headlining casino acts are music to fans’ ears
When Wayne Newton comes to your town, you know you’ve arrived as a gaming destination.
- Bill would be first to help problem gamblers New legislation to appropriate $70 million for prevention of pathological gambling is being hailed as a pioneering federal effort to address the nation’s growing addictive gambling problem.
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HOOKED ON GAMBLING: Cost goes beyond money
In New York, $9.5 billion is spent on gambling every year, whether it’s on the slot machines at the Seneca Niagara Casino or scratch-off lottery tickets at the local Wilson Farms.
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HOOKED ON GAMBLING: Gambling treatment slow to emerge
Gary Fryza spends long days selling lottery tickets at Ted Mars convenience store on Packard Road.
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HOOKED ON GAMBLING: An innovative approach
Rachel Winas lied the first time she talked to therapists about gambling.
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