From the Granite State Coalition Against Expanded Gambling…
The “no proof” meme was laid to completely rest yesterday at hearings before the community impacts subcommittee of the House special joint SB152 committee. Here is the Nashua Telegraph’s story on these hearings.
Dr. Rachel Volberg, the world’s most widely published gambling addiction expert, presented the most current data from her 2012 meta-analysis of all 202 gambling addiction studies worldwide conducted since 1975. These findings disappoint both pro- and anti-casino advocates, but the findings are abundantly clear:
- Video slot machines are far more addictive that any form of gambling now available here in NH. “Research clearly concludes that slot machine use generates the highest number of gambling addicts.”
- Proximity matters. Massachusetts casinos will cause harm, but far less than would a New Hampshire casino. As Dr. Volberg testified, those living within ten miles of casino are nearly twice as likely to become addicted as those living farther away.
- Populations tend to “adapt”to exposure to nearby slot machine casinos over time as gambling addicts, age out, go bankrupt, commit suicide, or bottom out and recover via addiction treatment.
Mell Brooks of Littleton, who once owned and operated a small video gambling venue in Oregon, put a human face on the stats. “It’s one thing to hear about an accident and another to witness an accident. It’s one thing to hear about the Boston bombings and another thing to have been on the finish line,” Brooks said. “I’ve felt the explosion; I’ve seen it with my own eyes. We don’t want this here.”
Hat tip to Jim Rubens for the details and the link. You can learn more at noslots.com
This is a thirteen minute segment from 60 minutes on Gambling addiction.
