New York Times

Dear Editor:

In the recent story, “I’m Losing Money. So Why Do I Feel So Good?” writer Randall Stross depends on outdated and disproven research to raise a discredited, old canard: that slot machines cause gambling addiction. But an in-depth study completed recently at University of Iowa reaffirms what research by Harvard Medical School other institutions has shown clearly over four decades: despite the dramatic increase in the number of electronic gaming machines such as slots, the rate of disordered gambling has stayed consistently at 1 percent of the population.

Our industry takes the issue of gambling addiction seriously, and we work with many organizations to find solutions to the problem. And we want customers to understand how our games work. In fact, readers interested in learning more about slots can view our online pamphlet, “Taking the Mystery Out of the Machine” (accessible at http://ow.ly/gPCLp), one of the many resources we’ve developed to help educate consumers.

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