Financial Times

Sir, in “Games prey on your mind” (March 12), Christopher Caldwell makes an attention-grabbing contention that electronic gaming machines are addictive. However, the facts simply do not bear out his claim.

First, there are hundreds of thousands more gaming machines in the U.S. today than there were 35 years ago. And yet, it is settled science that the prevalence rate of disordered gambling has remained virtually unchanged during that time. If gaming machines brought about an increase in the condition, surely the rate would have jumped substantially.

Also during that time, the amount wagered on gaming machines during an average U.S. casino visit has not increased significantly. Similarly, approximately 80 percent of gaming patrons report setting a budget before they gamble – a figure that sharply contradicts the notion that gaming machines somehow encourage players to spend more money than they can afford to lose.

In addition, research clearly disproves the notion that things – such as gaming machines or the Internet – are inherently addictive. Rather, addiction results from the relationship between a vulnerable person and the object of his or her addiction.

In reality, millions of people from around the globe enjoy gaming machines because they offer exciting entertainment experiences. The machines are designed with a singular purpose in mind – to ensure that players have fun.

The U.S. casino industry cares a great deal about disordered gambling, which is why we spend millions of dollars annually funding gaming research and responsible gaming programs. We believe that, in order to effectively address this issue, we must fully understand it. Unfortunately, Mr. Caldwell’s unfounded claims simply muddy the picture.

Sincerely,   
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
President and CEO
American Gaming Association