Hartford Courant

Dear Editor:

We commend the Courant for looking at a very important issue in the recent story, “More Casinos: More Problem Gamblers?” As writer Brian Dowling correctly points out, we in the gaming industry take this topic seriously, and we have long been committed to making responsible gaming an integral part of our business.

With regard to the prevalence rates of problem gambling, I should point to an in-depth study completed recently at the University of Iowa. It reaffirms what research by Harvard Medical School and other institutions has shown clearly over four decades of research: Despite the expansion of casinos during that time, the prevalence rate of pathological gambling has remained steady at 1 percent of the population. This doesn’t change our commitment to helping this 1 percent, but the facts are clear that the availability of gambling does not lead to more addiction.

Time will tell whether the addition of new casinos mentioned in your story will create a rise in the prevalence of problem gambling for that area, but the facts—based on overwhelming evidence from numerous studies—suggests the rates are not likely to change.

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
President & CEO
American Gaming Association