Websites designed to help people overcome their gambling addictions have recently been contacted by television associate producers and reporters in an effort to obtain information about individuals who have been affected by compulsive gambling addictions. In most cases, they are looking for people to come forward and share how their lives have been impacted by local gambling establishments. In the majority of these cases, people feel fear of embarrassment from family and friends and therefore, are not willing to discuss how their lives were affected.
I was recently contacted by BET nightly news. They asked for help to locate people who lived within a specific geographic area whose lives were affected by gambling. Out of the five individuals I found, all refused to discuss their situations or allow someone to interview them for fear of recognition.
Through my website, I Stopped Gambling So Can You http://www.istoppedgambling.com/ I have been fortunate enough to meet people of different backgrounds and learn about their gambling addictions. They have allowed me to share their stories with others as long as I assure them that their names will be kept confidential. I have shared some of these situations with reporters and associate producers with the hope that the message would reach the politicians.
One politician I spoke with said he was trying to pass a law that would prevent people from using their credit cards to buy lottery and scratch tickets at local convenience stores. At first I thought this was a joke. People who want lottery tickets will get them with or without a credit card. Lawmakers need to see the larger picture. Most people who live within sixty miles or less from gambling establishments, are negatively impacted.
It's been about ten years since the casinos opened in the state of Connecticut. People are spending more of their money there and not at the local businesses and shopping malls. Lawmakers need to realize that casinos grow very quickly in size due to the amount of money people lose. The amount money lost to gambling could be have been used to boost our economy instead.
The truth is political leaders love the revenues generated by the casinos. This makes them look good to the voters because they don't have to increase taxes. Do the political leaders care that the economy is being negatively affected? Based on my knowledge and experience in this area, I predict that in less than five years the devastation caused by gambling establishments will be seen. This can be prevented if people are educated and given the truth about this private addiction.
In speaking with reporters, I have also asked why they don't disclose the direct relationship between the amount of growth a casino has and the amount of money people lose by gambling. They have no response. The media enjoys reporting to everyone about the one individual who wins a million dollars. The media fails to mention that Casinos take in more than a million dollars a day from slot machines alone at the same time they report the million dollar winner. It's this distorted view that sends people down the road to self destruction by hoping to win big just once.
The operators at gambling establishments are very greedy people. In some states, penny slots were recently introduced as a way to attract seniors and lower income families. They believe the slots allow everyone to play such as those on social security and welfare and not just the rich. The truth is they don't care about whom they hurt or how many lives are destroyed. The one thing I have learned is that all gambling establishments do not discriminate. If you have money, they will gladly take it with a smile.
Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT ran a promotion in which they mailed out $50 dollar vouchers in an effort to bring people into the casino. In one week I heard from over fifteen people who actually used these vouchers but lost anywhere from one hundred to over a thousand dollars in just one visit. The casinos know how to draw people in. In order to avoid temptation, compulsive gamblers have asked to be removed from the mailing list. Unfortunately, gambling establishments don't care and will still send you information, but just not as often. During the holiday season, casinos mailed out $400 and $100 dollar vouchers for people to use at any of the gift stores located inside their establishment. Since it's the holidays they know gamblers buy gifts too, but once they get the gambler back into the casino, they're hooked once again. Is it unfortunate? Or was this just manipulation to get the gambler back?
Based on the statistics, gambling addiction is on the rise and the economy is in trouble. Is there a relationship between the current economy and gambling establishments? When will the politicians step up and help these people? It's up to the people to take a stand and hopefully the political leaders will step up and help these people out.
I have an extensive background in dealing with compulsive gamblers, friends and family of gamblers and teenage gamblers. I believe there are many alternatives to aid in the recovery of a gambling addiction. A large percentage of emails I receive are from compulsive gamblers looking for alternatives to Gamblers Anonymous and twelve step programs. Programs such as these help a number of people each year but there is a larger percentage that needs an alternative. These are people that I am trying to reach.
It is my goal to educate compulsive gamblers with options to help them beat their addiction.
Mr. Howard Keith has an extensive background in dealing with compulsive gamblers, relatives and friends of gamblers and teenage gamblers.
Mr. Keith believes there are many alternatives to aid in the recovery of a gambling addiction verses a twelve step program. A large percentage of his emails were from compulsive gamblers looking for an alternative to Gamblers Anonymous and twelve step programs. Gamblers Anonymous also helps a significant number of people each year but there is a large percentage that does not stay. These are the people Mr. Keith is hoping to reach.
Its Mr. Howard Keith's goal is to educate compulsive gamblers with options to help them beat their addiction.
elite cleaning services Des Plaines ..Recently I met a man in a coffee shop, a... Read More
Industrial Recruiting. The absence of a state income tax in... Read More
Aren't you glad you purchased Alaska? You got a bargain,... Read More
The TSA seems to have completely missed the ball at... Read More
Amnesty International comments on the proposal that has been laid... Read More
Peace in the Middle East - whoa that is a... Read More
One of Abraham Lincoln's claims to fame is the fact... Read More
The filibuster as a political delaying tactic has been a... Read More
-The Protocol plan 'will remain invisible until the moment when... Read More
The offshore financial centres have been forced in recent years... Read More
The organic farmers are angry that Monsantos terminator GM seeds... Read More
Since the United States Government is promoting the whistle blower... Read More
UK Water RatesYOU CANNOT BE DISCONNECTED FOR WATER RATES DEBTSWater... Read More
The most exciting event in Slovenia last week was when... Read More
The civil war in Iraq seems to be much more... Read More
A friend of mine, who lives in the thick of... Read More
The official figures are staggering: 35% of the workforce -... Read More
The RSS is getting feedback from its 140 pracharaks or... Read More
We have known of the innate characteristic need of members... Read More
The use of homosexual men in the area of espionage... Read More
The use of religion is well-documented as a social engineering... Read More
The American Dream is the promise to have it all... Read More
In order to build a stronger, more self-sufficient America, America... Read More
Non-lethal Goo Concepts have been tossed around by many war... Read More
Societies have always had a problem of what to do... Read More
eco-friendly cleaning service Buffalo Grove .."The only time I open my mouth is when I... Read More
In the last two weeks, two non-senior US officials indirectly... Read More
I would like to discuss a few issues we have... Read More
Without the flow of fuel our very mobile society comes... Read More
Recently on C-SPAN, there were two gentlemen debating free trade... Read More
Many people who are expert in the issue of the... Read More
Corporate America has been shaken recently by lawsuits and criminal... Read More
SYNOD OF DRUM CEATT (494 - 5):It is interesting to... Read More
The entry by telephone and cable companies into the Internet... Read More
It appears the Feds are suing Elliot Spitzer over his... Read More
Roberto Calvo Macias, a young author and thinker from Spain,... Read More
"Those who sacrifice essential liberty for temporary safety are not... Read More
Most citizens agree that we need the Federal Trade Commission... Read More
Conor MacDari was a Mason but his Masonry deplored the... Read More
Having redundancies and today's technologies in transportation we have protected... Read More
The second amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees every American... Read More
The man on the tape raised his hand, pointing a... Read More
Many folks who are pro-NASA and Pro-Space Colonies say that... Read More
City Governments is their quest for; "quality of life" often... Read More
I've been thinking again. I know some of my readers... Read More
Peace in the Middle East - whoa that is a... Read More
The idea that the majority shows the will of the... Read More
If we go hog wild towards the liberal agenda where... Read More
What depth of blind insanity has inflicted itself upon Israel's... Read More
It is a law that we register deadly weapons with... Read More
Political |