Nevada may offer help to compulsive gamblers

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Linda C. finally sought help for her compulsive gambling after she came home from a devastating night at a Las Vegas casino and, staring at two handguns on her kitchen counter, contemplated suicide.

Nine years later, she's a peer counselor for compulsive gamblers in Las Vegas. But she's only somewhat hopeful about a proposal from Gov. Kenny Guinn to use $200,000 in state money over the next two years to help create a program for other problem gamblers.

"I think it's highly needed," said Linda, 57, who spoke on the condition her last name not be used. "But, personally, $200,000 is just a joke."

The funding would mark the first time the state has put any money toward helping people addicted to gambling -- a particular problem around Las Vegas and Reno. Other states with far less in casino revenues and a shorter history of legalized gambling contribute much more.

The governor considers the program a "first step," said his spokesman, Greg Bortolin, and hopes to get at least $200,000 in matching funds from the casino industry.

"I think symbolically this is the first time the state has ever made a commitment," Bortolin said.

"What we're doing is encouraging the industry to step up and do the right thing."

Nevada's commercial casinos rake in nearly $10 billion a year, by far the highest amount of any state, according to the American Gaming Association's 2003 statistics.

While all states except Utah and Hawaii have some form of legalized gambling, just 17 provide funding for problem gambling programs, according to Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling.

New Jersey, a distant second in casino revenues with more than $4 billion, gives at least $600,000 to problem gambling programs each year, according to Edward Looney, executive director of the New Jersey Council on Problem Gambling.

But in Nevada, the casino industry contributes the bulk of the money that goes to the problem, "hands down," said Carol O'Hare, executive director of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, which runs a hot line and conducts awareness campaigns.

Mike Willden, director of the state's Department of Human Resources, estimates the industry contributes nearly $1 million to a problem gambling center in Las Vegas and O'Hare's council.

Experts estimate that 1 to 2 percent of the population are pathological gamblers and up to 4 percent have a less severe problem, said Christine Reilly, executive director of the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders.

In Nevada, those numbers are a bit higher -- Willden said there are nearly 100,000 people in Nevada, or 6.4 percent, with some level of gambling problems.

Alan Feldman, senior vice president of public affairs for MGM Mirage, said it's appalling the state hasn't put up funding before. He called the proposed contribution small, especially compared to the $1.83 billion the state expects to collect over the next two years from gambling and live entertainment taxes.

Republican state senators from Reno and Las Vegas are among lawmakers proposing legislation to ensure the state budgets enough money to fund training for counselors and contracts with treatment facilities.

"The problem is a lot greater than people say," said Sen. Randolph Townsend, of Reno.

Arnie Wexler, a recovering compulsive gambler who conducts responsible gambling workshops, agrees the money is a long time coming. But he couldn't be happier to see the governor's initiative.

"This is a wonderful start and I commend the governor for doing what he's doing," he said.

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