A prominent women’s advocacy group, Women’s Health East, affirmed a link between commercialized gambling and family violence.
2015 Concerning link between online gambling advertisements and family violence, experts warn
Form of Government-Sanctioned Gambling
Stop Predatory Gambling Statement on Supreme Court Ruling Murphy v. NCAA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2018
CONTACT: Les Bernal, National Director
202-567-6996 | mail@stoppredatorygambling.org
STOP PREDATORY GAMBLING STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT’S DECISION IN MURPHY VS. NCAA
(WASHINGTON, DC) — Stop Predatory Gambling released the following statement following this morning’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning the federal law preventing states from sanctioning and promoting sports gambling:
“All men and women in our nation deserve a fair opportunity to build the best life possible for themselves and their families.
This litigation was conceived in greed by powerful gambling interests in partnership with a handful of self-serving politicians to benefit a privileged few. It’s a naked money grab from the wallets of ordinary Americans cloaked as a “states’ rights” case.
While the Court’s ruling centered on lofty questions involving states’ rights, the real-world consequences of its decision are severe. The American people lost $117 billion on state-sanctioned gambling in 2016, causing life-changing financial losses for millions of citizens. It directly contributes to the lack of mobility out of poverty that traps so many. This serious national problem will be made far worse if the government is allowed to operate and advertise sports betting
Sports betting is especially dangerous for American kids. Studies show that children in those countries with legal sports gambling are repeatedly exposed to harmful messages and advertisements about sports gambling. It normalizes gambling for kids.
State-sanctioned gambling is a relic of past failures of political leadership. Strong, visionary leaders from both political parties will ultimately phase out state-sanctioned gambling because it’s failed. It’s inevitable. It’s not a question of if but when.
We’ll continue our just fight to improve people’s lives with compassion and fairness until then.”
Click here to read the U.S. Supreme Court decision.
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State Revenues from Predatory Gambling are Totally Dependent on Problem Gamblers
If anyone doubts how much the government program of predatory gambling depends on victims, this study will provide convincing proof. Nova Scotia provides one of many opportunities to determine how much money comes from problem gamblers. Study results vary widely with location and “mix” of available gambling. This study from the Nova Scotia Department of Health is one of the best on the topic. 5.7% of adults in Nova Scotia are involved in regular continuous play of video lottery gambling. These adults account for approximately 25% of all those who play video lottery terminals (VLTs) each year in the province and contribute approximately 96% of the annual provincial net revenue for video lottery gambling. Problem gamblers are likely to comprise half of the gamblers seated at VLTs at any given time.
Fair Game: Producing Gambling Research
This extensive and important report by the UK’s Rebecca Cassidy details the ways in which gambling research is presently conducted and funded. It also identifies a need for more unbiased reporting. It examines the state of gambling research and how it can be tainted by the influence of money and/or lawmakers who are supported by the gambling industry.
Researchers Bet Casino Data Can Identify Gambling Addicts
Researchers now believe that the very data casinos use to track customers betting habits can be used as a tool to reduce the problem of gambling addiction. Addiction scientists can use customer tracking information to create computerized models to spot and warn people with high risk profiles. But the reality is, it is merely window dressing, with casinos having little incentive to intervene with their most lucrative customers.
2013 Researchers Bet Casino Data Can Identify Gambling Addicts
He Who Pays the Piper Calls the Tune with Gambling Research
A key study found academic research into gambling heavily biased, controlled by industry and government. Gambling researchers maintain funding by producing research that is safe, uncritical and reliably delivered. What is lacking is the asking of the uncomfortable questions and hearing even more uncomfortable answers, something the government nor gambling industry are inclined to do.
2014 He who pays the piper calls the tune- gambling with research
Tough Luck for Seniors in Casino Land
Casinos spend tens millions on marketing incentives for the over-55 crowd, from buffets and wheelchairs to having a supply of adult diapers on hand and even an in-house pharmacy. As casino gambling continues to spread, we face a future of more addicted, broke, lifeless seniors. Amy Ziettlow examines whether the casino environment for these seniors is a mindful connection or mindless escape.
2013 Seniors and Casinos by Amy Ziettlow
Big Problems with Gambling Research
With state legislatures across the country considering legalized gambling expansion, the need for unbiased research is crucial. While other fields, such as alcohol or tobacco rely on academia for fact-based evidence, many gambling researchers remain beholden to industry funding, resulting in flawed and influenced findings. The research produced by independent studies, while likely more valid, may be perceived as incomplete or inferior due to lack of funds and access to data.
How Casinos Get You to Spend the Most Money
How casinos are layed out, from the positioning of the tables, down to the lighting and carpet patterns, is no accident. But nothing is more directly related to end-of-the day profits than the strategy of the carefully placed slot machine. With slot revenue now accounting for 85% of profits, the slot machines of today are continuous and uninterrupted, allowing for minimal effort on the players part resulting in maximum financial loss.
2014 Slot-machine science How casinos get you to spend more money
U.S. Treasury Warns Casinos for Facilitating Money Laundering By Criminal Rings
The U.S. Treasury Department is urging casinos to take steps to combat money laundering in their sports books. Regulators and law enforcement authorities are concerned by intelligence suggesting that criminals are making bets with legal sports book operations, using intermediaries, or “runners,” to place bets, the Treasury bureau said.
“In these cases, the intermediaries rarely voluntarily disclose to the casino that a transaction is being conducted on behalf of a third party, thereby disguising the third party’s role in the transaction and obscuring the source of funds used to place the bet. This poses distinct money laundering risks for casinos,” FinCEN said in the letter.
Sports gambling is legal in only four U.S. states including Nevada. However, illegal sports betting operations around the world, including online outfits, sometimes offset bets they receive by placing casino wagers, law enforcement sources told Thomson Reuters.
Runners have been known to loiter at casinos, keeping numerous mobile phones and tablets near them to receive orders from illegal gambling rings.
The letter reminds casinos that the Bank Secrecy Act requires them to ask gamblers whether their bets are for themselves, and to report any wagers for third parties as suspicious activity.