FCCG Urges State to Step to the Plate to Fund Gambling Addiction Treatment

In light of yesterday's slot referendum in Miami-Dade county, the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling says it is time the state stepped to the plate and set aside funding for gambling addiction treatment. Despite the expansion of gambling revenues and taxes, existing State funding only supports prevention, education and outreach programs. Though the FCCG has come a long way, it is imperative that Florida put a plan of action in place that will fund compulsive gambling treatment, enabling citizens with gambling problems to access the help they need NOW!

Any gambling expansion in the state should be accompanied by a requirement for funding for treatment and corresponding programs and research. Citizens can no longer wait. By statute, gambling facility operators are required to implement responsible gaming programs, as was done for the Broward slots

(PRWEB) January 31, 2008 -- The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) today called upon the State to step to the plate and set aside funding for gambling addiction treatment. "Residents are already struggling from the ill effects of gambling and while the FCCG maintains a neutral stance, it cannot sit back quietly when the State to date has yet to support treatment for those negatively impacted, in which there are hundreds of thousands throughout Florida. Yesterday's approval of the slot machine referendum in Miami-Dade County, which allows slot machines at the county's dog and horse tracks, as well as Jai-Alai fronton, represents another significant expansion of gambling in the State.

Ashe explained that since the inception of the FCCG in February 1988, the organization has witnessed major gambling expansion in the State. In Florida today, gambling options include lottery games, bingo venues, Native American casinos, pari-mutuel facilities (including poker) and slot machines in Broward County, and soon to be in Miami-Dade and Seminole facilities. In addition, there are casino cruise ships to nowhere, as well as an array of illegal gambling activities, including but not limited to Internet betting sites, sports wagering and other gambling opportunities. Such expansion has also precipitated a growing and ongoing need for assistance and treatment for those adversely affected by problem and compulsive (pathological) gambling.

"Despite the expansion of gambling revenues and taxes, existing State funding only supports prevention, education and outreach programs. Though the FCCG has come a long way, it is imperative that Florida put a plan of action in place that will fund compulsive gambling treatment, enabling citizens with gambling problems to access the help they need NOW! Our concern over the referendum is based on a disturbing fact - slot machines are the number one primary gambling problem identified by callers to the Florida Council's 888-ADMIT-IT Problem Gambling HelpLine. Further, calls to our HelpLine increased a near 25% within the past year alone, and Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach residents placed the highest volume of contacts," stated Ashe.

"Any gambling expansion in the state should be accompanied by a requirement for funding for treatment and corresponding programs and research. Citizens can no longer wait. By statute, gambling facility operators are required to implement responsible gaming programs, as was done for the Broward slots," Ashe concluded.

For additional information, call the FCCG 24-hour HelpLine (888-ADMIT-IT) or visit us online (www.gamblinghelp.org).

###