NEWS FROM

THE NEW YORK COUNCIL

ON PROBLEM GAMBLING FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mariangela Milea 518/427-1622 May 4, 2005

NYCPG ANNOUNCES PROBLEM GAMBLERS AND THEIR FAMILIES OVERLOOKED IN CATTARAUGUS AND NIAGARA COUNTIES

The New York Council on Problem Gambling (NYCPG) today reveals that the distribution of money from the Seneca’s casinos to the state will not included any funding for problem gamblers and their families -- this at a time when New Yorkers are struggling with dangerously high levels of problem gambling.

The share from Seneca Niagara for 2004 was $44.8 million The state gets $12.3 million from the Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca which opened last May. Three Quarters of the money given will be placed into the state general fund. The remaining one-quarter will go to local governments in Cattaraugus and Niagara counties.

State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, and Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, D-Lewiston have agreed to divide the local money up among the city of Niagara Falls, the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp., the Niagara County Airport, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and the Niagara Falls School District. No money will be apportioned for problem gambling treatment, prevention or education services.

“To my dismay, the allocation of a percentage of the local shares to aid those adversely affected by problem gambling was not mentioned,” said James Maney, NYCPG Executive Director.

"I understand that revitalization of the economically depressed Buffalo Niagara region is a high priority, but we also need to be ready to move on developing programs and initiatives to address the very public health issue of problem gambling,” said Maney.

"Last year, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun paid the state of Connecticut slot machine revenue in the amount of $400 million,” said Maney. “And, according to the Connecticut state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, $836 million, more than twice as much as the state received in slot machine revenue, was lost by state residents. More important, $218 million of those losses came from 'problem gamblers' in Connecticut."

Superior Court Judge Susan B. Handy, who until recently presided over many of Connecticut’s New London County cases involving employees stealing to finance their slot machine play, has been reported as saying that "There is probably an epidemic on our hands," said Maney.

"The 1999 National Gambling Impact Study reports that the rate of problem and pathological gambling doubles within 50 miles of a casino. Our state must meet the needs of the gambling public, be adaptable to the ever-changing gambling environment and appropriate funding for problem gambling services,” concluded Maney.

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