Provident, Inc.

H.R. 2906: the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act of 2009 (CPG) would provide the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration with authority to coordinate Federal action regarding problem and pathological gambling.  The bill proposes to allocate $14.2 million in grants per year to non-profits and state agencies prevention, research, and treatment of problem gambling.  This annual grant amount would be allocated from the estimated $5.3 billion in annual Federal tax revenue from gambling winnings, and represents ¼ of 1% of that total.  Why should we be interested?

Pathological gambling is a growing public health problem, as increasing numbers of Americans are exposed to a variety of opportunities to gamble.  It is estimated that 70% of adults gambled once in the past year.  Most individuals who gamble will have no difficulty limiting the money and time devoted to gambling.  But for 3 to 5% of the adult population, gambling will become an addiction.  Compulsive gambling is characterized by the loss of ability to reliably make rational decisions about gambling:  ignoring family and job responsibilities in order to gamble; difficulty limiting amounts of money devoted to gambling; gambling with increasing amounts of money in order to maintain excitement; engaging in or considering criminal activity to fund further gambling; and considering suicide as an escape from desperate circumstances caused by gambling losses. Problem gambling is a contributing factor to domestic violence, property crime, suicide, divorce,  job loss, and bankruptcy statistics.  One staggering statistic cited in H.R. 2906 is the estimated social cost attributed to problem gambling: almost $7 billion last year.

Missouri is exemplary in regard to State funding for outpatient counseling services provided to pathological gamblers and their family members.  Funded by tax revenues from Missouri casinos, the Department of Mental Health Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse contracts with counseling agencies to provide counseling services at no charge to Missouri residents.  Provident is one of those agencies which provide counseling to individuals and families affected by compulsive gambling.

If H.R. 2906 passes in the House and Senate, our knowledge about problem gambling and our ability to implement that knowledge will be expanded.  We know prevention and treatment efforts are cost-effective.  A few states have been applying the effective “drug court” model to gambling-related criminal cases.  Increased funding could allow Missouri to establish “gambling courts” to more effectively address criminal cases related to gambling addiction.  Prevention efforts must be enhanced. The current generation of school age youth were born in a time when gambling was ubiquitous: casinos as entertainment centers, lottery tickets at gas stations and grocery stores, poker on television and online.  

To read H.R. 2906 and track its status, go to http://thomas.loc.gov (THOMAS Library of Congress)
To send your opinion about H.R. 2906 to your Congressional Representative and Senators, go to www.senate.mo.gov and enter your zip code under the “Legislator Lookup” tab to access links to elected officials.

I believe H.R. 2906 is an important bill and worthy of support.  I hope you share my belief.  Thank you for your time.

Larry Gale, PhD, LPC, CCGC