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On-site counseling
proposed at casinos
(January
2008 Issue)
By Phyllis Hanlon
Governor Deval Patrick's plan to establish three casinos in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts aims to shore up the state's coffers
and increase job opportunities. But in the process, Massachusetts'
towns and cities may experience some negative repercussions.
Speaking through Alison Goodwin, communications manager for the
Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), JudyAnn Bigby,
Health and Human Services Secretary, says, "As part of this economic
development strategy, the Governor wants a strong prevention program
for problem gambling that will provide valuable information about
the importance of responsible gambling - this is an innovative and
forward thinking approach."
The Governor's proposed legislation requires casinos to provide
free space for independent on-site intervention and counseling,
employee training to identify problem gamblers and plentiful and
obvious signage. "The state would also conduct a study on gaming,
and monitor issues as they arise," says Bigby. "There will be a
pro-active educational outreach component about addiction prevention
that would be targeted towards the most vulnerable populations,
e.g., youth and the elderly. The casinos would not be allowed to
market to either of those populations."
Although in place north of the border and in some European countries,
the proposed program is believed to be new to the United States.
"The administration has been working to gather information from
a variety of sources, including officials in Canada," says Bigby.
"As far as we can tell from our research, this would be a first
in the nation program."
The Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling hopes to play
a role in the counseling plan, according to Margot Cahoon, communications
specialist for the Council. "We would certainly like to have a presence
at each of the casinos and to have a problem gambling center on-site
at each of the casinos to offer help and information about problem
gambling and referrals for treatment either to a therapist or a
12-step meeting or both," she says.
Bigby says, "It's too early to say which specific organizations
will play a role."
Chris Armentano, director of Problem Gambling Services for the
state of Connecticut's Department of Mental Health and Addiction,
gives cautious approval to the Governor's plans. "The devil is in
the details," he says, calling on-site counseling "a radical concept."
Armentano recommends that Massachusetts track gambling behavior
and then provide feedback. "Any place where you spend money, you
get a statement. It would be good business practice and neighborly
to send a statement," he says. "When you don't, you are encouraging
secrecy from people who care about you. It affects the fiscal position
of the family and could have generational impacts."
Prior to the arrival of casinos in Connecticut, Armentano's agency
served 50 to 70 individuals annually. Since 1992 when Foxwoods in
Ledyard and 1996 when Mohegan Sun in Uncasville opened, that number
has skyrocketed to 600 or 700. "The easier the access, the more
you will have a problem," says Armentano.
Marvin Steinberg, Ph.D., executive director of the Connecticut
Council on Problem Gambling, suggested on-site counseling to Foxwoods'
officials 15 years ago without success. "It seemed like a foreign
idea at the time," he says. "But in the last three years, Australia
and Canada have placed counseling centers in casinos."
In addition to standard signage and employee training, Foxwoods
implemented the first self-exclusion program, which could be another
option for the proposed Massachusetts casinos. Steinberg explains
that a patron with a gambling problem provides a picture ID and
signs a statement saying he will not return to the casino for a
specified period of time. "The casinos are not responsible for searching
for the person. But if they see you by accident, you'd be ejected
and, depending on whether it's a first offense, would turn you over
to police for trespassing charges," he says. Mohegan Sun evaluated
this strategy and found it to be successful, Steinberg adds.
The responsibility to protect its citizens lies with the government,
notes Steinberg. "It's shortsighted to say you'll create 5,000 new
jobs. You have to look at long-term effects. Do the social benefits
outweigh the social costs?"
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