Indian Gaming > Gaming expands but few funds for addiction programs

August 08, 2005

Gaming expands but few funds for addiction programs

The Indian gaming industry is growing by leaps and bounds in Oklahoma but the state only reserves $750,000 for addiction programs.

The state has about 78 casinos in addition to horse racing and a lottery. Yet there are only 16 Gamblers Anonymous meetings per week statewide, The Oklahoman reported. More and more meetings are being attended by women, the paper said.

Mark Bonney, a bankruptcy trustee, estimates that 10 percent of his cases are gambling related. Based on his workload, he said gambling losses run between $30 million to $50 million a year.

Brian Foster, the chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, said tribes are developing programs to prevent gambling addictions. He said tribes are concerned about the problem because most of their customers are local. Studies show that 3 percent to 5 percent of the American public becomes addicted to gambling.

The state Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services plans to add about 150 counselors to help deal with gambling problems.

Get the Story:
Oklahoma lacks counseling for compulsive gamblers (The Oklahoman 8/7)
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The debate about gambling (The Oklahoman 8/7)
More women are finding help at gamblers support group (The Oklahoman 8/7)