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Monday, July 28, 2008 6:14 PM EDT
Gambling Part I: The make or break hobby
By Jeff Shaw
Olean Times Herald
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| Darrell Gronemeier/Olean Times Herald
Slot machines like the ones shown here at the Seneca-Allegany Casino are all the more luring thanks to the casino's proximity in the Twin Tiers. |
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It doesn't matter if you're a man or woman; teenager or a senior citizen; rich or poor. Gambling addiction is a problem with no regard for age, gender or income.
And problem gambling is a bigger problem in the area than many people realize, according to representatives from the Cattaraugus County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
"Our role, our job here, is to inform people of the risks that can lead to problem gambling," said Mike Prutsman, the council's director of prevention.
The purpose of the council is to stop gambling problems before they begin by informing people - especially adolescents - about how to identify and prevent the problem, said Catherine Eade, the council's gambling prevention coordinator.
"If you can delay the onset (of gambling), the chances of them having a problem is significantly lower," she said. "I want to empower people with knowledge. I don't think people are aware of the risk involved."
Staying local
Although most people who gamble use it only as a recreation, the nearby presence of a gambling facility does have a major impact on the amount of problem gamblers in an area, Ms. Eade said.
"If you live within 10 miles of a gaming facility, it's a 90 percent greater chance of having a problem with gambling," she said.
The presence of the Seneca-Allegany Casino in Salamanca is by far the biggest gambling facility in the Twin Tiers, but the council doesn't demonize the casino.
"It's about availability," Mr. Prutsman said. "It's not that the casino being a villain."
Off-track betting facilities and local - though illegal - sports books are other ways gambling is always available.
"Sports betting is very big in this area," Ms. Eade said. "It's very accepted. It seems harmless, but people are losing thousands and thousands of dollars."
Phil Pantano, spokesman for the Seneca Gaming Corp., wouldn't comment on whether the presence of a casino increases problem gambling. He did point out, though, that the casino has a variety of measures to prevent and treat gambling addiction, and that most people who visit the casino do not have a problem.
"The vast majority of our patrons correctly see the casino as a form of entertainment and they treat it as such. They treat it responsibly," he said. "The last thing we want to see is for someone to take things beyond their reasonable limit."
Mr. Pantano also noted that the casino offers other entertainment besides gambling, including restaurants and concerts.
Ageless
Whether the area has a gaming facility or not, the advancement of technology has made gambling available everywhere. Internet gambling has claimed many addicts, and is one of biggest sources for gambling problems among adolescents.
"About 10 percent of adolescents, aged 14 to 21, are what we consider problem gamblers and 20 percent are at risk," Mr. Prutsman said. "We know that for adolescents, the risks are high."
Online casinos, and poker in particular, are widespread and easy to access, Mr. Prutsman said. Age verification is often shaky or non-existent, allowing people not of legal gambling age to play.
And developing a gambling problem while you're young could mean a lifetime of problems, Mr. Prutsman said.
"If a young person gets involved with problem behavior, the more likely they are to get into trouble as an adult," he said.
Another age group not commonly considered the typical gambling addict face troubles.
"Seniors are at risk," Mr. Prutsman said. "They absolutely can develop an addiction late in life."
Gambling, particularly in casinos, is often a part of the social life of a retired adult, Mr. Prutsman said, and they have more free time with no job or children to raise.
Most seniors are responsible gamblers seeking some entertainment, but the council has stepped up its information campaigns to address the possibility of late-in-life addiction.
"It's a major social function to them," Mr. Prutsman said. "We just want them to know the risks."
Risky business
And the risks are major, Mr. Prutsman said. In fact, problem gambling has much the same symptoms and effects drug addiction or alcoholism.
"It's just like other addictions," he said. "They're so similar, with what happens to the relationships."
Problem gamblers often need to gamble more to achieve the same level of excitement. They lie about their gambling, become restless and irritable when they try to cut back on their gambling, commit crimes for money to support the habit, and use gambling as an escape from problems. All those are the same symptoms of other addictions.
"For some, it can have devastating consequences," Ms. Eade said. "I see and hear it all the time. A lot of people are struggling."
And it's not just high rollers and people with expendable income. According to In Focus, a publication for various adult issues, an average lottery ticket buyer is poor - but still finds an average of $600 to spend on tickets. The top 5 percent of lottery players spend about $4,000 a year and account for 51 percent of sales.
Regardless of the form of gambling, those that spin fully out of control sometimes end up without even money for food and shelter.
"Generally, when they seek treatment, they have nothing left," Ms. Eade said.
® Contact reporter Jeff Shaw at jshaw@oleantimesherald.com
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