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NYCPG EXAMS 2005 HELPLINE RESULTS: 2003/2005 Comparison outcomes expound need for additional services and dedicated funding

The New York Council on Problem Gambling (NYCPG) today calls for more problem gambling prevention, education, research, and treatment services financed through a dedicated funding mechanism to abet the rising Helpline numbers of problem gamblers in New York.

“Today’s New Yorkers deal with historically increased gambling opportunities,” said James Maney, NYCPG Executive Director. “Since 2003, New Yorkers have experienced the launching of 2 casinos, 5 racinos, and MegaMillions, expansion of QuickDraw, round-the-clock Internet gambling, and Texas Hold’em poker. And, opening soon are new video lottery terminals in Yonkers, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, and Aqueduct raceways, as well as, a new casino in Buffalo.

“The Governor is projecting estimated receipts for VLTs in 2006-07 to be $358 Million, a 124% increase from 2005-06, and an additional 59% increase in 2008-09, with projected receipts of $1,304 Million and has not proposed any additional revenue for problem gambling in 2006-07,” said Maney. “Furthermore, the Governor proposes an additional $38 million in Quick Draw revenue.

“As it stands now, New York is sparsely covered with problem gambling treatment, education and prevention programs,” said Maney. “Currently, there are 10 treatment programs and 11 prevention programs throughout the state of New York.”

The limited availability of prevention and treatment services for problem gambling in the State is in marked contrast to the growing number of New Yorkers seeking help for a gambling problem. In fact, Maney noted that calls to the New York Council on Problem Gambling Helpline increased 28% from 2003 to 2005. As in prior years, the largest proportion of 2005 callers (40%) reported a problem primarily with gambling on the New York State Lottery (i.e., Scratch offs, Daily Numbers/Lotto, Quick Draw, MegaMillions). Surprisingly, this actually represented a decrease from 2003 when 54% reported Lottery gambling as the main problem. In its place, and largely accounting for the overall increase in callers, was a 60% increase in callers reporting a problem with casino gambling, and a 68% increase in callers with problems in other gambling venues. Callers with casino gambling problems now account for 27% of all callers to the helpline. Problems with other types of gambling account for nearly a third of all callers. Among the latter, the helpline has seen a five-fold increase in the number of callers reporting a primary problem with internet gambling, a three-fold increase in callers with problems primarily with card gambling, such as Texas Hold’em poker, and over a one and a half-fold increase in callers reporting a problem with sports betting.

Maney sees the increase in Helpline calls, and increase in problems with other-than-Lottery gambling as a reflection of the overall increase in gambling opportunities throughout the state. Sullivan County, home of Monticello Raceway & VLTs, while generating few callers due to its rural nature, still had over five times as many callers in 2005 as in 2003. Since the opening of Seneca Allegany Casino located in Cattaraugus County, this county has realized an 83% increase in callers. Its neighboring county of Chautauqua reached a 79% increase. Saratoga, home of the Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, recognized a 64% increase while its neighboring counties of Albany and Rensselaer increased 51% and 25% respectively.

HELPLINE CALLS BETWEEN 2003 AND 2005
Counties	% Increase
Saratoga	64
Albany	52
Rensselaer	25
Montgomery	180
Cattaraugus	83
Chautauqua	79
Sullivan	433
Orange	10
Broome	47
Dutchess	19
Ulster	60

DOWNSTATE HELPLINE CALLS BETWEEN 2003 AND 2005
Counties	% Increase
Bronx	17
Kings	22
New York	23
Queens	46
Richmond	171
Nassau	89
Suffolk	49
Rockland	56
Westchester	41

“Kings County (Brooklyn) has the highest number of callers throughout the state, and is a county without problem gambling treatment services,” said Maney. “Rockland County with a 56% increase has no problem gambling prevention, education and treatment services.”

"The increase in callers should be sending a message to the Governor loud and clear," Senator Padavan said. "People are getting into greater trouble because of growing opportunities to gamble in New York State. We need to include a significant increase in funding for programs to help problem gamblers in this year's budget."

“Of even greater concern is the fact that callers to the Helpline most likely represent only a small proportion of New Yorkers experiencing problems with gambling and not yet getting help,” added Maney.

Senator Bill Larkin said, “The release of these statistics confirms what we already know about the increasing incidence of problem gambling. In New York State where the expansion of gaming is currently being embraced as a source of entertainment and economic benefit, it is imperative that a safety net be established to treat those who will succumb to compulsive gambling problems. A permanent dedicated fund should be created to address the issue of problem & compulsive gambling and provide prevention and treatment services for those who will need it. Funding could easily be secured by assessing a very small portion of the gaming revenue that this extremely lucrative industry generates.”

According to the National Gambling Impact Study, a gambling facility roughly doubles the prevalence of problem and pathological gambling within a 50-mile radius of the facility. New research conducted by the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York ties the risk of problem gambling with proximity to casinos and other gambling opportunities. The Research Institute on Addictions states that a casino within 10 miles of home has a significant effect on problem gambling and is associated with a 90 percent increase in the odds of being a pathological or problem gambler.

Assemblyman John McEneny said, “Changes in the federal bankruptcy laws make it more difficult to put the lives back together, which have been torn asunder by problem gambling. More than ever, we must invest in treating addictive gambling as a disease.”

“While there have been increases in prevention and treatment programs, there is still a great need for New Yorkers to have access to problem gambling services,” said Maney. “The Council recommends that the problem gambling education and prevention fund, which currently is empty, be funded using a dedicated funding mechanism tied into gambling revenues. A dedicated funding mechanism would allow the funding of problem gambling awareness, prevention and treatment services to be continuous, rather than experience the year to year uncertainty that the present system of funding affords.

Maney concluded, “Given the sobering Helpline outcomes and the proliferation in gambling opportunities, provisions for combating problem gambling should be made. An aggressive public awareness campaign must be included, as well as problem gambling prevention, education, treatment and research. To achieve these objectives a dedicated funding mechanism that is tied into increased gambling receipts needs to be built-in. A Problem Gambling Education and Treatment fund was established in 2001, but to date no money was ever put into it.”

The Council urges the Legislature and the Governor to provide ample funding for problem and compulsive gambling prevention, education and treatment services. Gambling is a treatable illness and help is available by calling NYCPG’s 24-hour Helpline at 1-800-437-1611.