Focus | Page 30 | Stop Predatory Gambling

Government’s Monopoly of Commercialized Gambling

Essays, How Gambling Impacts Democratic Values, Lotteries

Yale Law School’s Stephen Carter wrote a terrific column in April 2011 on state lotteries. Carter writes: “Why on earth do we allow the government to hold a monopoly on the very profitable (if rather disgusting) business of persuading the suffering to part with their money in the hope of a munificent return they are all but certain never to see? In other words, why is the government in the lottery business at all?”

The state lottery has been a spectacular failure and more and more intelligent thinkers like Carter are speaking the truth about it.

End the Government’s Lottery Monopoly

Foxwoods Casino Targets Repeat Gamblers

Fact Sheets, Native American Casinos, Predatory Business Practices, Regional Casinos

We know from Wall Street Journal reporter Christina Binkley that casinos make 90% of their profits from 10% of their customers. So, it’s no surprise that Connecticut’s Foxwoods Casino has developed a new business strategy to entice it’s “loyal” customers to gamble more of their money away, particularly those “customers living within 90 minutes of the…property.”

Foxwoods Business Strategy

The Link Between Crime and Gambling Addiction

Crime, Investigative Journalism, Regional Casinos

This article from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review explores the connection between gambling addiction and criminal activity. Because gamblers are allowed to lose such large sums of money in such a short period of time, some turn to stealing to help fuel their addiction and chase their losses. Generally, these are law-abiding citizens who would otherwise never commit crimes.

Gambling Addiction Leads Many Down Criminal Road

Australia Attempting to End Electronic Gambling Machine Tricks

Fraud, Investigative Journalism, Lotteries, Predatory Business Practices, Regional Casinos, Slot Machines

Australia Senator Nick Xenophon is trying to stop certain features of electronic gambling machines (or “pokies” as they are known in that country) that trick players into thinking they have won, when they really have lost. Senator Xenophon is also requesting that the industry release machine probability accounting reports.

Call to Stop Pokie Machine Tricks

Problem Gamblers Can’t Judge the Cost of Electronic Gambling Machines

Fraud, Predatory Business Practices, Regional Casinos, Slot Machines, Studies

According to the Australian Productivity Commission, people often underestimate how much people spend on various items, like transportation, clothing, etc. “For gambling, if we say we have spent $100, on average we have really spent $735. Then there are the pokies [electronic gambling machines]. On average, if pokie players say they have spent $100, they have actually spent $3448. That’s not a misprint: they are apparently aware of just 2.9 per cent of what they are losing.” Would receipts or a record of spending help people become more aware of how much they spend? Absolutely.

Problem Gamblers Can’t Judge Cost of Electronic Gambling Machines

Casinos Will Lead to Net Job Loss in Ohio

Economic Effects, Regional Casinos, Studies

In the fall of 2009, Ohio voters were faced with a referendum to allow casino gambling in the state. Prior to the election, the Public Policy Analysis Group at Hiram College studied the social and economic effects that this form of predatory gambling would bring to the state. These researchers discovered that there would be a net loss of area jobs in the new casino locations. This would be due to the significant loss of non-casino jobs in these areas. Further, the policy analysts characterized the industry’s claim of creating 34,000 new jobs as “misleading.”

Report on Ohio Gaming Initiative – Statewide Economic and Social Factors

The Effects of Predatory Gambling in Maryland

Predatory Business Practices, Regional Casinos, Senior Citizens, Studies, Women

This May 2011 report from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County studied how Maryland residents have been affected by the many forms of predatory gambling now available in the state including slots, the lottery, and horse racing. The most significant finding was that individuals in the 18 to 29 age group appear most at risk of developing gambling problems. In addition, researchers found that “being male, single, African-American or other races (primarily Hispanic) are associated with an increase in the odds of being at risk for problem/pathological gambling. Most problem/pathological gamblers travel 6 to 15 miles to gamble, typically spend over 6 hours gambling during a single session, and generally gamble with others not related to them.”

Gambling Prevalence in Maryland – A Baseline Analysis

A Look at Lawsuits Against the Predatory Gambling Business

Litigation, Uncategorized

In this 2004 Mercer Law Review article, Professor John Kindt details the extraordinary methods of predatory gambling operators (and their allies) to hide harmful, and potentially illegal, business practices. Kindt states that “insiders” from the industry need to come forward so the public can truly understand what goes on.

“The Insiders” for Gambling Lawsuits

Exposing the Truth About the Predatory Gambling Business Through the Judicial System

Litigation

Professor John Kindt suggests that subpoenaing predatory gambling operators could reveal the truth behind the business, since “the historical record indicates that decriminalized organized gambling activities invariably lead to new addicted gamblers, new bankruptcies, and new crime and corruption.”

Subpoenaing Information from the Gambling Industry

Tobacco-Style Lawsuits Against the Predatory Gambling Trade

Litigation

Professor John Kindt explores the idea of states bringing lawsuits against predatory gambling operators, a strategy that worked over time with the tobacco companies. Kindt writes: “Owing to costs created by new addicted gamblers, bankruptcies, and crime once gambling is legalized, some have argued that gambling establishments should be held liable for the costs they place on society.”

The Costs of Addicted Gamblers – Should the States Initiate Mega-Lawsuits Similar to the Tobacco Cases?