Category Archives: Gambling

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno ALBERT ALCAIN/Presidential Photo

To eradicate the illegal numbers game jueteng, the government has decided to grant franchises to gambling lords so that they would shift to small-town lottery (STL) instead, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said on Sunday.

Sueno said the granting of STL franchises by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) was part of President Dutertes efforts to stamp out jueteng and replace it with STL.

He wants everyone to shift to STL because the government gets a percentage from its earnings. I think [PCSO] earned around P400 million monthly last year from STL, Sueno said in a radio interview.

The PCSO was able to find a way to give a franchise to these gambling lords. There should be no more jueteng only STL, he said.

Sueno said the monthly government income from STL was expected to rise this year to around P2.2 billion a month.

Sueno said it was from these funds that the President obtained the money to help Filipinos in need of medicine or food.

Actually, he has already released P1 billion I think either to (the Department of) Health or to DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) to buy medicines, he said.

Sueno earlier vowed to fight illegal gambling after reports surfaced that certain individuals were allegedly using his name to collect bribe money from illegal gambling operators.

I dont want to receive anything from illegal gambling. So, for the local government units and the Philippine National Police, expect that we will be strict in the implementation of anti-illegal gambling policies, Sueno said.

He said there should be a stop to the proliferation of illegal gambling if local government units and the PNP work hand in hand with a clear mandate of combating illegal gambling.

The LGUs and the PNP should be working doubly hard to eradicate illegal gambling, because if they help each other, there is no way it will persist, Sueno said.

He also released information relating to his statement and admission of being bribed by undisclosed illegal gambling protectors during a Senate hearing for games and amusement early this week.

Even before I became [Interior] Secretary, someone from Manila was already going to me asking if I want to accept [a bribe]. I said, I dont want to accept, I dont even want to entertain you, he said.

Sueno said the bribery attempts continued as early as his first week as chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government but he added that he did not to accept any money.

He said he was stunned when he heard reports that someone collected money on his behalf.

I have asked somebody to investigate on this matter. They say a police officer collects P12 million a month in Central Luzon. Here in Metro Manila, its P400,000. That does not include the other regions, he said.

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Gambling lords get STL franchises - Inquirer.net

By JASON M. REYNOLDS ~ jreynolds@t-g.com

Shelbyville police report they conducted a major gambling bust Thursday.

Officers raided six businesses where they said illegal gambling video game machines were being used, Shelbyville Det. Lt. Brian Crews said. At least nine people have been cited in connection with the activity.

Police had received a tip about suspicious activity at the locations, Crews said. The business owners had previously been warned to end the gambling but did not, he said.

The machines and $8,198 in cash were confiscated, Crews said.

The locations were: West Lane Market; Tipsy Tavern; Suds Pool Hall; Pop-A-Top; Hillcrest Market; and Smith's Foodtown, Crews said.

According to Crews, the following were cited as of Friday with possession of gambling device and aggravated gambling promotion: Polly Sue Bearden; Veda Kay Reed; Timothy Scott Arnold; Gladys Darlene Sudberry; and Charles Rayburn Smith. James H. McCullough Jr. was cited with aggravated gambling promotion, Crews said.

Three people who had been gambling were charged, Crews said. Those cited with gambling are: Sebastian Pascual, Anderson Maurice Rucks and Lacy Bernard Cleveland, he said.

The people who were cited appeared for booking on Friday afternoon, Crews said.

In association with the raids, Shelbyville Officer Brock Horner reported that he and Officer Christopher Vest responded to 300 N. Hillcrest Drive on a search warrant for the alleged illegal gambling devices. They saw several people inside the building. After getting permission to enter, Horner reports he and Vest saw Lacy Cleveland sitting at an illegal gambling device.

Vest told everyone what was happening while Horner reports he began talking to Cleveland, who told him he was cleaning the windows in the room for the owner. Horner reports he looked in the room and told Cleveland there was only one window in the room and it was boarded up. Cleveland was given a General Sessions Court summons for gambling and told the booking procedure, Horner reports.

Drive-through charge

Shelbyville Police Officer Bobby Peacock responded to Dairy Queen Thursday about 2:35 p.m. There was a black Chevrolet Suburban in the drive-through with a female in the driver seat who had reportedly passed out.

The woman was identified as Jennifer Marie Blackwell, Peacock reports. She was inside a Bedford County ambulance being checked out when the officer arrived. Peacock reports she appeared to be lethargic, had slurred speech and her pupils were pinpointed. Her hair was disheveled. Peacock reports he asked if she was on any medicine or had been drinking alcohol. She said no, according to the report, although she had just taken two Xanax pills that she takes every morning. She said she does not drink.

Officer Bruce Davis had Blackwell do field sobriety tests, which she failed, according to Peacock's report.

Peacock reports that Blackwell was taken into custody on a charge of driving under the influence. She had a 7-year-old child in the vehicle who was released to her husband along with the vehicle, according to the report.

Funny money

A complainant reported receiving a counterfeit $20 bill Thursday at McDonald's restaurant. Shelbyville Police reported that the bill was passed around lunch time.

Off-road

On Thursday Shelbyville Police Officer Jerry Draine responded to a call of a vehicle that had gone off the road into the tree line around 6 p.m.

Draine and Officer Todd Sanders arrived and found the vehicle, which appeared to have been cutting doughnuts and lost control, Draine reported. The vehicle was facing south just off Railroad Avenue.

Jeffery Waters was found 200 yards west on Railroad Avenue, sitting on the north side of railroad tracks, Draine reported. Upon questioning, Waters said he had consumed alcohol, the report said.

Draine reported that Waters failed a field sobriety test. He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. At the police station, Waters blew a 0.172 on an intox test, the report said. He was taken to the jail and charged with DUI, driving on a revoked license and reckless driving, the report said.

Jail intake

The following were arrested since Thursday by the Shelbyville Police Department, Bedford County Sheriff's Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol or 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force. They are only charged; guilt or innocence will be determined by the courts.

Jennifer Marie Blackwell, 37, Blue Stocking Hollow; driving under the influence, reckless endangerment, driving on a revoked license; $5,000 bond, held

Termel Lamon Dowdy, 45, Pickle Street; domestic assault-simple, $2,500 bond, held

Orville Octavious Layton, 50, Tullahoma; public intoxication, $500 bond, held

Frankie Lee Mays, 58, South Brittain Street; failure to appear (two counts), $30,000 bond, held

Corey James McDonald, 43, Cates Street; violation of sex offender registry, $50,000 bond, held

Eve Powell, 35, Halls Mill Road; domestic assault-simple, $2,500 bond, released

Jessica Marie Pruett, 27, Pickle Street; hold-extradition-another state, no bond listed, held

Jeffery Tyler Waters, 24, Maplewood Drive; driving under the influence, driving on a revoked license, reckless/careless driving; $3,500 bond, released

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Police bust 9 in gambling cases - Shelbyville Times-Gazette

Kampala

Paul Wasswa has been sat at the counter for seven hours, his eyes darting between a virtual roulette screen above and betting slips in front. The university student hopes his Saturday spent in one of Kampalas many betting outlets brings big rewards.

This is my work. I wake up early and I just come to betting, it is enjoyable, the 25-year-old says. The betting helps me pay my tuition fees and next month I will go back to school.

Wasswa is among millions of Ugandans gripped by gambling. But it wasnt always so.

While betting on people playing pool and games of Ludo, for example, have long been popular activities in almost every Ugandan town it was the emergence of casino operators and creation of a national lottery in 2004 which saw bettings appeal rocket, according to locals.

Here in Uganda, you have to try your luck. There is no money, so people resort to gambling.Back in 2007, Sports Betting Africa opened the first licensed sports betting outlet in the country, capitalizing on the rising popularity of the top soccer markets such as the English Premier League. There are now more than 200 such betting shops, with a recent report estimating 150 billion Ugandan shillings ($42 million) is now spent on gambling annually.

Yet a rise in illegal operators and growing community unrest coupled with the ever rising number of unemployed youth, is forcing the government to act with a series of new regulation and a first-ever responsible gambling campaign set to be introduced.

Similar to many African countries, Ugandas population is youngof its 37.6 million citizens, 78% are below the age of 30. This demographic imbalance has left many youth jobless with more than 22% aged 15-24 unemployed, and an increasing number turning to gambling.

Ive almost spent two years betting, Wasswa, who spends around 10,000 Ugandan shillings a day gambling, says. The youth have turned betting to their business and I live with my aunt so I find some little money here to help me.

Kabalagala Road is the gambling epicenter in Ugandas capital, home to an array of betting shops, with virtual games and slot machines supplementing wildly popular sports betting.

Peter Arach, manager at Paragon Bet on Kabalagala Road, one of Ugandas 40 mainly foreign-owned firms, says it is easy to see why gambling is taking ahold. Look here, the street is full of betting companies, Arach says. There is nowhere you can hang out without gambling.

Arach says the biggest win he has seen is a 6,000 Ugandan shillings bet which delivered 70 million Ugandan shillings. Here in Uganda, it is more an individual fightyou have to try your luck, he says. There is no money, so people resort to gambling.

Inside Paragon Bet, there is standing space only. Rows of plastic chairs are full with more than 70 people, some holding betting slips, others just eager to watch live, as soccer teams Arsenal and Hull City go head-to-head 6,000 miles away in London.

On a good day with sports betting we can make 10 million Ugandan shillings, Arach adds. Everyone here is born knowing football.

In order to encourage our young generation to be active and productive, gambling has to be done away with.Perched on a stool outside rival operator Top Bet, Isaiah Mugisha fingers through a booklet of latest odds. Today he is placing bets on soccer matches from England, Belgium, Brazil and Argentina. Mostly, I bet on weekends, he says. People like football and it is because of the English Premier League. It is all about the hope if you come here with just 1,000 Ugandan shillings you have a chance to win.

The rise of the English Premier League and the growth of Pay TV, subscriptions are expected to spike 88% from 2015 to 30 million by 2021, has created a betting boom across Africa. The emergence of international online firms such as Betway is also driving interest.

In South Africa, sports betting gross turnover is expected to top 5 billion rand ($380 million) in 2018 (pdf), in Kenya the figure is predicted to be 5.1 billion Kenyan shillings ($50 million)a 142% rise from 2014. One of Kenyas local sports betting firms, SportPesa, has been so successful it has been able to afford to be a shirt sponsor Hull City. Meanwhile in Africas largest country, a reported 60 million Nigerians regularly bet on sports.

But in Uganda such rapid growth in gamblings popularity is creating tensions and the need for greater regulation.

Kampala schools have reported an increase in dropouts with gambling students unable to pay fees, while several communities, including Ugandas second largest city Gulu in November, have sought to ban betting amid claims of mounting crime and underage involvement.

Alongside Gulu, the town of Mpigi, a largely agricultural area 25 miles outside the capital, is also looking at prohibition.

Last June, a 16-year-old boy in the district was killed over a 500 shilling ($0.15) bet and the town council now wants to ban the activity, dominated by slot machines, from its streets. In order to encourage our young generation to be active and productive, gambling has to be done away with, Mpigi Town Clerk Mathias Bwawika says.

Those engaged in it do not have sustainable income, they engage in illegal activities and it is an area of security threat for the community. The activities are not progressive to our people.

The Ugandan government, which earns around $5 million in taxes a year from gambling, is making efforts to regulate the sector. Its Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board has increased operations and in Nov. 2015 passed new legislation but it will be this year when many regulations take effect.

A nationwide sensitization initiative to educate local leaders and communities will start imminentlyand prevent district banning orderswhile a task-force has been expanded to crackdown on illegal operators and underage gamblers.

And ultimately the national law controls the sector and issues the licenses.

The boards corporate and public affairs manager says there are plans to launch a responsible gambling program and counseling services from this summer.

We realize we have so many people who are being affected by gambling and they get addicted, Jonathan Kyeyune says. If you ban an activity it will go underground to the black market. When that happens such individuals are hard to identify and so it is better to have this in place and be able to help those individuals who are having problems.

Leaving the early evening crowds on Kabalagala Road and Paul Wasswa remains hunched over the counter, hoping the next spin will help him get ahead.

If I get a job after my studies I wont come back, he says. I would rather have a job but since I dont, I find myself here.

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Uganda's youth are addicted to gambling on English soccer, now the government wants to crack down - Quartz

There have been lessons learned in how best to help those in need, but otherwise, only incremental gains have been made in responding to what many term the "silent addiction,'' according to today's team at the Vanguard program.

In terms of access to care for compulsive gambling, the country today is where it was in the early 1970s with treating chemical dependency, according to Mike Schiks, executive director and CEO of Project Turnabout, which also offers alcohol and drug recovery.

The Vanguard Center for Gambling Recovery in Granite Falls, an independent program within Project Turnabout, remains the only residential treatment program for compulsive gamblers in the state, and one of only a handful in the country, he said.

Most of those who arrive for care discover insurance companies do not cover their treatment costs, unlike the case for chemical dependency. Vanguard "stretches'' the funds made available by the state of Minnesota from unclaimed lottery prizes and its own fundraising efforts to make possible much of the care it offers, according to Schiks and Mark Sannerud, communications director for Project Turnabout.

Many other things remain the same as 25 years ago too. Only 1 to 10 percent of those who need help for compulsive gambling will obtain it, according to Sheryl Anderson, coordinator for Vanguard.

Their lives may be in a mess, but they put off getting help in the belief that it can all be solved with one big win.

"Just maybe I can get myself out of this,'' said Sherry Parker, director of residential services, of the thought pattern.

There's another, equally disturbing pattern with this disease: "It is pretty standard that people that have a gambling problem are seeking help for lots of other things way before they ever seek help for gambling specifically,'' Anderson said.

Anxiety; thoughts and attempts at suicide; financial, marital and family stress; and criminal behavior are among the issues that many will report as their problems. And yet, unless the question is directly asked, few will disclose that compulsive gambling is at the root of their troubles. "So much shame and stigma is associated with it,'' Anderson said.

The secret about this addiction that remains the most difficult to expose yet today is the toll that compulsive gambling takes on families and communities, according to Sannerud. Arrests of formerly law-abiding citizens. Divorces and broken families. Suicide attempts, ER visits. Bankruptcies.

Schiks believes more should be done to identify and steer those with gambling problems to the help they need. Every county has a designated professional whose job it is to assess people who may need chemical dependency treatment. Far harder to find are those trained to recognize problem gamblers.

"Most physicians, most social workers, most psychologists, most chaplains, get almost zero training in this area,'' Schiks said.

And in many ways, Minnesota is far ahead of other states. Some of those coming to Vanguard are from states where "zero" help is offered for this addiction, he said.

The Vanguard residential facility on the Project Turnabout campus in Granite Falls can care for 20 people at a time. There are usually 12 to 18 receiving treatment in any given week, Anderson said. Most patients remain for 30 days. Outpatient treatment and participation in Gamblers Anonymous or other programs is critical for recovery.

Obtaining continued care can be a challenge for those with this addiction, Schiks said. While virtually every small community has an Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous group, Gamblers Anonymous groups are far fewer.

Men and women seem equally vulnerable to compulsive gambling. At Vanguard, it's been roughly a 53 percent to 47 percent split in terms of men and women receiving care, respectively.

Statistically, men are more likely to start gambling earlier in life, but they progress to the problem stage at a slower pace, Anderson said.

Women tend to start at a later age, but make up for the lost time quickly, she said. More so than men, they tend to gravitate toward video gaming machines, where the onset of compulsive gambling appears to have a faster progression.

Opportunities for gambling are never more than a smartphone away. The venues in Minnesota for gambling, whether it's sports betting, charitable gambling, or Indian casinos, have expanded greatly since Vanguard opened its doors.

Last year in the U.S., more than $9 billion was wagered during the "March Madness'' NCAA college basketball tournament, according to the NorthStar Gambling Alliance.

Schiks is quick to point out that there are many in the state's gaming industry who recognize the need to help compulsive gamblers. There is a certain portion of the population vulnerable to the addiction, while the majority of people can treat gaming as recreation without the adverse consequences, he explained.

"This isn't about good guys and bad guys. This is about certain folks desperately in need of help and they deserve it,'' he said.

Schiks said Vanguard's mission today remains exactly what it was 25 years ago: Giving those with the courage to walk through its doors hope to carry with them as they walk out.

Vanguard has met many challenges in its 25 years, including the need to rebuild after a tornado tore apart its then newly built facilities in 2000.

Schiks said the Project Turnabout board of directors remains committed to providing care for compulsive gamblers even though in many ways, the financial and societal challenges remain as daunting today as 25 years ago.

"At the bottom of it all is people are worth it,'' he said. "This population is worth it.''

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Minnesota's first residential gambling treatment center remains only ... - South Washington County Bulletin

Thumbs-down: To gambling expansion is yet another nonsolution to Illinois budget woes. There certainly are problems with whats been described as a grand bargain, particularly a massive income tax hike, but it looked for a moment as if a solution to the lack of a state budget was at least on the horizon. Instead, the shiny object was new gambling licenses for Chicago, Lake County, Rockford and other locations around the state, which were approved by the Illinois Senate. This is no jackpot for weary Illinois taxpayers.

Thumbs-up: To Algonquin resident Greg Freund and all of those who will be participating in the St. Baldricks Foundation shave this year. This year will be different for Freund, as he is raising money to benefit his 14-year-old daughter, Talia Freund, who was diagnosed with Ewings sarcoma in July, as we documented this week. This also is an event that is personal to so many people. In March, organizations throughout the country hold head shavings to benefit the St. Baldricks Foundation and other local causes. The events raise money for childhood cancer research and show children who have lost their hair because of treatments that others stand proudly with them, according to the foundations website.

Thumbs-up: To Serena Huberty, the Richard Bernotas Middle School eighth-grader who won the 2017 McHenry County Spelling Bee. Spelling is difficult, especially on stage in front of a crowd with so much at stake. So, congratulations to Serena and all of those who competed Wednesday night, including first runner-upTagan Gizel of Parkland School in McHenry and second runner-up Giuliana Ramirez from Heineman Middle School in Algonquin. Serena, 13, goes on to compete in the 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will be from May 28 to June 3. We wish Huberty the best of luck at the national bee.

Thumbs-down: To the election tradition of anonymous mailers attacking candidates who are seeking local office. Whether you support him as a candidate or not, Lakewood Village President Paul Serwatka has been smeared for a few years with a packet of half-true information seeking to discredit him. He isnt alone and many candidates find themselves victims of cowardly character attacks. It should be a good hint to residents that when the source of the unverified information wont show its face, theres likely more to the story. Its hard enough to run for office without facing illegitimate attacks.

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Our View: Gambling expansion is no solution - Northwest Herald

LAS VEGAS When the Pac-12 Tournament relocated here from Los Angeles four years ago, Larry Scott, the conference commissioner, stressed a desire for a more rabid atmosphere.

Since the conference tournament was re-introduced in 2002, it had been played at Staples Center and the crowds had dwindled, dropping below 60,000 over the four days for the first time in 2011. In the last season at the downtown venue, it rose above the 60,000 mark, though only slightly. The arena often remained half empty.

The solution? A new location after a decade-plus, offering fans a reason to travel to the host site, along with a smaller venue. That began in 2013.

For the past four seasons, the MGM Grand, a casino and hotel on the Las Vegas strip, housed the event, with a seating capacity at 12,000. Attendance increased in the following years, but the move especially elicited praise for the more intimate setting compared to its cavernous predecessor.

It worked.

But there was a venue change this season, the first of at least three at T-Mobile Arena, an 18,000-seat arena that opened last year and will be used for the citys new NHL expansion team.

The change carried some risk for the Pac-12. Could theleague fill it?

Asked if he had concernsthis week, Scott said he did not.

We believed that Pac-12 mens basketball was going to continue to get stronger, Scott said, explaining the reasoning for the move, and the way the fan base had been reacting, we felt that we could grow it.

For this March, Scotts reasoning was grounded. When third-seeded UCLA faced sixth-seeded rival USC in the quarterfinals on Thursday night, it saw an announced crowd of 18,153. The semifinals and championship game today/on Saturday have sold out as well, buoyed by three top-10 teams in UCLA, Arizona and Oregon, putting the four-day tournament on pace to draw more than 84,000. It could eclipse the 2007 record of 84,477 and willfinish well above last seasons mark (77,496).

Its a great start in the new venue, Scott said. So we dont have great concerns about the future.

Fultz moves on

Two days after its season ended with a first-round loss to USC, Washington officially lost star freshman guard Markelle Fultz, who declared for the NBA Draft.

Fultz, the projected top pick who was always expected to be a one-and-done prospect, led the conference in scoring with 23.2 points per game. He missed the final four games of the seasonwith a sore knee, school officials said. The Huskies, who finished 9-22 overall, were second to last in the conference.

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Although the season hasnt gone as planned, its really truly been a blessing to be here, Fultz said in a video posted on Twitter. Ive learned a lot of lessons on and off the court.

Bracketology update

The latest ESPN bracketology released on Friday morning had USC, which lost to UCLA the previous night, as the second-to-last team in the 68-team field for the NCAA Tournament.

The aggregate Bracket Matrix had the Trojans, at 24-9 overall, as a No. 11 seed.

Before ending up as a No. 8 seed last season, USC was 21-12.

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Gambling on Las Vegas has worked out for Pac-12 - LA Daily News

Members of the Racing and Gaming Commission at a recent meeting.

The Iowa Supreme Court says state regulators can consider the economic impact when awarding new gambling licenses, and theres no automatic requirement for issuing a license to a county that wants one.

Cedar Rapids lawyer Eugene Kopecky sued the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission after they voted against awarding a gambling license to Cedar Rapids in 2014. Kopecky argued the IRGC must approve a license once a county gambling referendum passes, and said the commission should not have made its decision based on the economic impact on existing casinos.

The Iowa Supreme Court ruling says the Racing and Gaming Commission is not required to issue a license just because a gambling referendum passes. The ruling considered the language used by lawmakers, which says the IRGC may issue a license in a county that approves a referendum. The ruling says that is key because: If the legislature intended to impose a duty on the commission to issue a license following an affirmative referendum, it would have used the word shall, as it did to impose a duty on the commission to not issue a license to conduct gambling games in a county in which the majority of voters disapprove a referendum for gambling games.

The Supreme Court also ruled against Kopecky on the second point as well. The ruling says the legislatures requirement that nonprofit license holders give at least three percent of gross profits back to the communities is evidence lawmakers deem the economic impact of casinos is an important function of legalized gambling. It says

in order to insure the continued economic development of our state, the legislature and the commission deem it important to make sure an existing gambling facility remains viable when the commission issues a new license. A closed gambling facility, together with a loss of jobs, has an adverse effect on economic development in our state.

The ruling settles the question in the 2014 action by the IRGC and could have an impact on upcoming action as well. Three new proposals for casinos in Cedar Rapids have been presented in to the commission and the regulators are reviewing proposals from 6 companies to conduct another market study on gambling that focuses on the impact of a new casino in Cedar Rapids.

Heres the full ruling: IRGC ruling PDF

Here are some related stories:State regulators approve statement on Cedar Rapids casino Gaming Commission hears challenge of Cedar Rapids casino decision

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Supreme Court rules economic impact part of awarding new gambling licenses - Radio Iowa

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None of the states revenue from gaming is being used to address the problem

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8:06 a.m. ET March 10, 2017

New Jersey officials have failed to address the gambling addiction problem.(Photo: Getty Images/Hemera)

I am a compulsive gambler who has abstained from gambling for more than 50 years. Compulsive gambling is an insidious disease, and many people who have it are in denial of how destructive it can be. Slowly but surely it is infiltrating our society, and it is detrimental to us and our children.

I have been fighting the governors and politicians for 15 years for programs that can help warn people about addiction, but nothing has been done. We will never stop gambling because the state makes billions of dollars every year from it. And none of the revenue is being used to address gambling addiction.

From my own experience and speaking to hundreds of people about gambling, I am aware of the pain and suffering gambling can cause bankruptcy, home foreclosures, embezzlement crimes and suicide.

Some of the revenue generated for the state from gambling should be allotted for rehabilitation, and insurance companies should recognize compulsive gambling as a disease. Its no different than alcohol or drugs. Money should be appropriated to have the state invest in billboards throughout New Jersey to let people know that there is help.

It is nice for Gov. Chris Christie to go on TV to reach out to people with drug addiction, but there is nothing about gambling addiction. Please call your representatives and the governors office and ask them to help combat this insidious disease.

Dominick Magliaro

Toms River

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LETTER: Christie shouldn't ignore gambling addiction - Asbury Park Press

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A gambling ring on the citys Southside didnt pay off for the alleged operator, according to a Corpus Christi Police news release.

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An extensive, long-term investigation into illegal gambling led to a search warrant being executed at a home in the 5400 block of Sugar Creek Drive about 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, 2017.(Photo: Contributed photo/Corpus Christi police)

A gambling ring on the citys Southside didnt pay off for the alleged operator, according to a Corpus Christi Police news release.

An extensive, long-term investigation into illegal gambling led to a search warrant being executed at a home in the 5400 block of Sugar Creek Drive about 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, 2017.

Inside the home narcotics and vice investigators found more than 30 slot machines, referred to as eight-liners, and about $5,000 in cash, a news release states.

During the investigation police learned the game room was paying out sizeable cash rewards to customers who played the machines in violation of state law.

Although the operator had taken significant precautions to disguise the illegal operation, which was being run from a home in a quiet residential neighborhood officers received enough information during the investigation to uncover the gambling ring, according to the release.

Two people were arrested in connection with the gambling operation. They were not booked into Nueces County Jail as of 6 p.m., according to a jail official.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.

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Corpus Christi police bust gambling ring on city's Southside - Corpus Christi Caller-Times

With news that Connecticut may be getting a third casino, UConn Today discussed with addiction expert Thomas Babor of UConn School of Medicine the growing gambling epidemic and its potentially negative impact on our society and our health.

Q. Is gambling a modern-day phenomenon or problem?

A. By the late 20th century, gambling had assumed global dimensions, and the trend has accelerated since the new millennium. From a variety of small gaming sites in local communities, gambling has become an industry intertwined with tourism, entertainment, professional sports, and the media. This expansion has occurred in close connection with a relaxation of government regulations in the interest of creating jobs and tax revenues for the national and local economy. Trends over the past 20 years indicate a growing concentration of many gambling activities into large transnational corporations and state/provincial governments, the development of new and more addictive gambling technologies, and globalization of the market through the internet.

Q. How prevalent are gambling behavior and gambling problems?

A. General population surveys show that gambling is prevalent in many high-income countries. In most surveys, more than half of the respondents report gambling at least once in the preceding year. However, the proportion varies considerably by country. Prevalence rates of problem gambling range from 0.5 percent to 7.6 percent across countries, with an average of 2.3 percent. These rates do not reveal that every problem gambler affects other people. Problem gamblers may have betrayed trust in relationships using money jointly held by the couple, or money from an employer or client for which the gambler had a fiduciary responsibility. Financial consequences of problematic gambling, as well as substance use and health issues, affect between 5 and 17 other people in addition to the individual gambler, according to some estimates.

Q. What are gamblings personal, social, and societal costs?

A. Substantial evidence links gambling with hardships in health, substance use, poverty, social relationships, and crime. In most cases, however, causality cannot be proven. Gambling is most often a co-occurring problem among people who are already in vulnerable life situations, aggravating their difficulties and obstructing their attempts to improve their situation. Gambling inevitably results in financial losses for most people who engage in games of chance. This can result in increased stress, bankruptcy, and even suicide in some cases. Problem gambling co-occurs with mental health problems and substance use. The most frequently co-occurring mental health problems are mood disorders (depression) and anxiety disorders. Survey research conducted in many countries indicates that gambling problems tend to be concentrated, though not exclusively, in the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, including ethnic minorities, the homeless, the unemployed, the mentally ill, alcohol and drug users, and those who have lower incomes and socioeconomic status. Although cause and effect are difficult to establish, the personal and social costs for individuals and families are often severe for people who gamble regularly. Societal costs are borne by employers (who suffer from embezzlement), social welfare agencies, and the health care system.

Q. Do the costs outweigh the benefits?

Gambling provides various kinds of satisfaction to players, and it probably has similar functions in society as sports and other games. As an economic activity, it contributes to the circulation of money, providing employment, profits, and revenues to governments. Many of these benefits cannot be objectively measured, and those that can bear opportunity costs as they absorb resources from other economic activities. It is difficult to say whether the costs outweigh the benefits, but it is likely that the former have been underestimated and the latter overestimated. With the recent expansion of gambling opportunities, it is becoming clear that most of the benefits go to governments and the gambling industry, and most of the costs are borne by the poor, the unemployed, and other vulnerable groups, whose problems then need to be addressed by the social welfare and health care systems.

Q. What does the latest scientific research tell us about gambling?

A. Electronic gambling machines generate much, if not most of the profit for the gambling industry, and most of the harm caused by it. Casinos are supposedly designed to cater to high rollers interested in table games, but in reality most of their profit is derived from electronic gambling machines. Other research indicates that gambling is one of several behavioral addictions that are difficult to treat once the habit has been developed.

Research also indicates that gambling regulations, such as restrictions on electronic gambling machines and bans on internet gambling, can reduce the harm associated with pathological gambling.

Q. What are the warning signs of a gambling problem?

A. The warning signs include gambling to escape worry, rather than for fun, gambling longer than intended, being unable to quit after losses, chasing losses with more gambling, being criticized by friends and family for gambling too much, losing time from work or school because of gambling, spending the rent, mortgage, or food money at the casino, borrowing money to finance gambling, and continuing to gamble despite all of these problems.

Q. If someone develops a gambling problem, what sort of help is available?

A. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for gambling addiction focuses on changing unhealthy gambling behaviors and thoughts, such as rationalizations and false beliefs. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can provide tools for coping with gambling addiction. Inpatient treatment programs are an expensive option for those with severe gambling problems, and often outpatient treatment and self-help groups can be just as effective. Marriage and credit counseling are also often critical in the resolution of issues created by problem gambling.

If you or a loved one have a problem with gambling, call the free, confidential 24-hour State Problem Gambling Services hotline at: 888-789-7777.

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