Online Gambling

Problem gambling is now considerably more common than alcohol dependence in the U.S

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Living within 10 miles of a casino doubles your risk of problem gambling. This is just one of the compelling statistics in the third “Expert Summary” issued by the University at Buffalo’s Research Institute on Addictions. Another incredible statistic found was that problem gambling is considerably more common than alcohol dependence in the U.S. The prevalence of problem gambling in the U.S is properly highlighted in this article.

New-Expert-Summary-Highlights-the-Prevalence-of-Problem-Gambling-in-the-U.S.

CkirbyProblem gambling is now considerably more common than alcohol dependence in the U.S
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Lottery’s new ad team launches campaign

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The Illinois Lottery announced a new marketing campaign ad that focuses around “optimism.” The $3.5 million campaign sloganing ‘Anything is possible’ will run across major networks, billboards, and newspapers alike throughout the state, luring citizens to blow their savings on lottery games literally mathematically rigged for them to lose.

Lottery’s new ad team launches campaign

LesLottery’s new ad team launches campaign
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Uncertain Benefits, Hidden Costs: The Perils of State-Sponsored Gambling

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The recent fiscal downturn forced cash-strapped, tax-averse state lawmakers to seek unconventional revenue- raising alternatives, for additional revenue-raising opportunities outside of the income, sales and property taxes that form the backbone of most state tax systems. One of the most popular alternatives to those major revenue sources is state-sponsored gambling. As this policy brief points out, however, gambling revenues are rarely as lucrative, or as long-lasting, as supporters claim.

Institute for Tax Policy Brief

CkirbyUncertain Benefits, Hidden Costs: The Perils of State-Sponsored Gambling
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‘Gamble responsibly’ is an ad, not a deterrent

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State governments presumably believe that the ‘gamble responsibly’ message is evidence of their concern about gambling problems, and will assist people who gamble to do so in a ‘responsible’ manner. This message seems to be no more than a façade however, providing a false sense of caring, as persuasively explained in this article by Charles Livingstone.

‘Gamble responsibly’ is an ad, not a deterrent 

Ckirby‘Gamble responsibly’ is an ad, not a deterrent
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Australian Government Study Shows Predatory Gambling Costing Citizens $4.5 Billion Dollars Per Year, the Bulk of Costs Deriving from Video Slot Machines

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According to the 2010 Australian Productivity Commission report (their government’s independent research and advisory body) which provides an in-depth analysis of the effects of the predatory gambling business on the nation, predatory gambling now costs Australian society about $4.5 billion dollars per year – the bulk of costs deriving from video slot machines. These costs exceed benefits when “excess” losses by problem gamblers is included. Cost per year per adult translates to $210. $1 U.S. dollar = $1.08 in Australian dollars as of Oct 23, 2009. You can find a longer summary of the report’s findings in the Profits from Gambling Addicts section.

Australia’s Gambling Industries 2010 Report Vol. 1

Australia’s Gambling Industries 2010 Report Vol. 2

LesAustralian Government Study Shows Predatory Gambling Costing Citizens $4.5 Billion Dollars Per Year, the Bulk of Costs Deriving from Video Slot Machines
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The Definition of a Pathological Gambler

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According to the American Psychiatric Association, in order to be diagnosed as a pathological gambler, someone must meet five of the ten criteria below:

  • Committing crimes to get money to gamble
  • Feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut back or quit gambling
  • Gambling to escape problems or feelings of sadness or anxiety
  • Gambling larger amounts of money to try to make back previous losses
  • Having had many unsuccessful attempts to cut back or quit gambling
  • Losing a job, relationship, or educational or career opportunity due to gambling
  • Lying about the amount of time or money spent gambling
  • Needing to borrow money due to gambling losses
  • Needing to gamble larger amounts of money in order to feel excitement
  • Spending a lot of time thinking about gambling, such as remembering past experiences or ways to get more money with which to gamble
CkirbyThe Definition of a Pathological Gambler
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Economists Find That Gambling Revenue Comes At the Expense of Sales Tax Revenue

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Economists John Jackson and Douglas Walker published an article in Contemporary Economic Policy in early 2011 that showed that the increased revenue that comes from gambling often comes at the expense of sales tax revenue. The two also came to the conclusion that, in general, casinos and greyhound racing tend to decrease state revenues overall.

LesEconomists Find That Gambling Revenue Comes At the Expense of Sales Tax Revenue
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Nobel-Prize Winning Economist Paul Samuelson on Gambling

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“There is a substantial economic case to be made against gambling…it involves simply the sterile transfers of money or goods between individuals, creating no new money or goods. Although it creates no output, gambling does nevertheless absorb time and resources. When pursued beyond the limits of recreation, where the main purpose after all is to “kill time,” gambling subtracts from the national income.”

From Economics, 6th edition, 1970

CkirbyNobel-Prize Winning Economist Paul Samuelson on Gambling
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The Definition of Addiction Changes

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The American Society of Addiction Medicine has a developed a new way of classifying addiction. “The definition, a result of a four-year process involving more than 80 leading experts in addiction and neurology, emphasizes that addiction is a primary illness – in other words its not caused by mental health issues such as mood or personality disorders, putting to rest the popular notion that addictive behaviors are a form of “self-medication” to, say, ease the pain of depression or anxiety.”

This new definition refutes a great deal of research funded by predatory gambling operators that claim that gambling addicts are merely suffering from another form of mental illness and that they would simply substitute a gambling addiction with another addiction.

A Radical New Definition of Addiction Creates a Big Storm

CkirbyThe Definition of Addiction Changes
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Poker Bots Taking Over Online Gambling

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Kurt Eggert, a professor at Chapman University School of Law is concerned that consumer protection is becoming extremely difficult as cheaters use “poker robots,” advanced intelligence programs, to tilt the tables.

“I know of no way to prevent somebody from having a bot on one computer telling him what to play on another computer,” Eggert said. “This is a huge problem for the industry in that recreational gamblers don’t want to go on their poker sites and get killed by somebody using a bot, and that is going to happen more and more as bots get smarter and smarter.”

“There are international competitions now to design the best poker-playing bots and they are doing a darn good job,” Eggert said.

Chairwoman Says Go Slow On Legalizing Web Poker

CkirbyPoker Bots Taking Over Online Gambling
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