Bill would be first to help problem gamblers

Help would be provided to pathological gamblers under recently introduced legislation

WASHINGTON — New legislation to appropriate $70 million for prevention of pathological gambling is being hailed as a pioneering federal effort to address the nation’s growing addictive gambling problem.

“We believe this is the first,” said Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. “The need for it is crucial.”

Rep. Martin T. Meehan, D-Mass., is the chief sponsor of the “Comprehensive Awareness of Problem Gambling Act of 2006.”

He said he recently introduced the bill — HR6009 — after reading a CNHI News Service special report in June that detailed the rapid expansion of legal gambling in the United States and the lack of assistance programs for the millions of Americans who have become compulsive players.

Meehan said he expects several congressional representatives and senators from states with heavy gambling activity to sign on as co-sponsors.

“We need to do something now — before this problem gets completely out of hand,” said Meehan. “I’ve talked with many others in and out of Congress about it, and they tend to agree.”

Meehan’s bill would spend $50 million over five years to create a federal grant program for local treatment centers.

It would also create a $20 million fund to pay for research into the causes of problem gambling.

Meehan said he worked with Whyte’s council and other organizations concerned with problem gambling in drafting the specifics of the legislation.

Whyte said that prevention and rehabilitation programs for compulsive gamblers are now funded almost entirely by the industry and a handful of states.

“The majority of states don’t have funding for problem gambling services and problem gamblers face a number of unique barriers to getting help,” he said.

A Greater Niagara Newspaper survey found that legalized gambling generates $21 billion annually in state taxes, but only $36 million of that is spent on treatment and prevention programs — or less than one-twentieth of one percent of the profits.

“Problem gambling is an issue in all 50 states, in big cities and small towns and every Congressional district in America,” Meehan said. “So I’m confident that this bill will garner widespread support.”

In addition to research and treatment grants, the bill would appropriate $1 million to produce public service awareness announcements for use on television and radio during gambling and sporting events.

It also encourages states to use the money they bring in through gambling on treatment and prevention programs, but it does not mandate that they do so.