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.
tidy up service Glenview ..Introduction:Although politicians and so-called "Intelligence Experts" are the ones appearing... Read More
Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to Lafayette in 1823 that... Read More
The US-backed Road Map peace plan had no real chance... Read More
In the fields of juvenile justice policy and programming, there... Read More
Many MLM sales people mean well but they inadvertently commit... Read More
The paper industry in the US is hurting. Due to... Read More
We recently saw another ferry accident, this one in NY... Read More
Government budgets represent between 25% and 50% of he Gross... Read More
In typical bureaucratese, the pensive EBRD analyst ventures with the... Read More
As pictures and videos surface showing young American soldiers humiliating... Read More
Is the only way to fight Fundamentalist Extremists becoming one... Read More
The recent first round of the Iranian elections somewhat resembled... Read More
A quick look back at NAFTA; how did we do?Stabilizing... Read More
Today we have a new franchise report from the Federal... Read More
INTRODUCTIONThe aim of writing this article is to encourage the... Read More
As a result of the conflict analysis exercise and a... Read More
It can be dangerous to engage in free speech. This... Read More
Every conflict has its economic moments and dimensions. The current... Read More
President Bush's selection of the Hon. John Roberts is an... Read More
Tax Evasion has been used to criminalize many, Nixon did... Read More
Presently Universities and Private Enterprise are working to build more... Read More
IntroductionThe way one lyrist has written, "Hum logo ko samajh... Read More
Tulipmania - this is the name coined for the first... Read More
Americans pride themselves on being the best, that's a fact.... Read More
Recently scientists have been watching the exponential growth of marine... Read More
full-service cleaning Mundelein ..Will a bus running across the borders bring cordial relations... Read More
The prosecutors in the Martha Stewart Case used testimony from... Read More
Commission for Africa (CFA), one is made to understand is... Read More
You know now that North Korea is backing down on... Read More
This is the fourth and final article in a series... Read More
We have brain drain issues in Silicon Valley, we have... Read More
Back-Dooring the CSIS:The US and Israel have admitted they back-doored... Read More
Ethanol is a great way to produce fuel, great fuel... Read More
ACCREDITATION: - Scholastic regimentation from the post WWII period has... Read More
Many environmentalists are against roads through the forest because it... Read More
Quit paying the DEA to chase marijuana. We could save... Read More
This is no time for the Black community to sue... Read More
As baby boomers, we have been spoiled all of our... Read More
These leaders like the Rothschilds who backed Crowley's Hermetic Order... Read More
As the populations expand in Colorado outside of Denver, Las... Read More
As the death toll in the avalanche-hit Jammu and Kashmir... Read More
Presently Universities and Private Enterprise are working to build more... Read More
Societies have always had a problem of what to do... Read More
Sarbaines Oxley was probably the easiest way to destroy free... Read More
It cities across America water is an issue, the flow... Read More
For the business community 9-11 changed everything. In our company,... Read More
The Bill of Rights to our Constitution caused -- and... Read More
I would like to discuss the blocked persons list of... Read More
Regarding the de-regulation of energy, this is not such a... Read More
MUD ? Much Unnecessary DisclosureThe Federal Trade Commission recently asserted... Read More
Political |