Letters to the Editor
San Francisco Examiner
110 Fifth Street
P.O. Box 7260
San Francisco, CA 94120
Dear Letters to the Editor:
The gaming—entertainment industry is aware of the problems that exist in the area of problem gambling, and it is most certainly addressing these issues in a variety of proactive ways. For one, the National Center for Responsible Gaming was formed in 1996 to provide research grants for independent study on problem gambling. The funding is provided solely by the casino gaming industry, which to date includes more than $4 million. Scott Winokur’s Jan. 13 article makes no mention of this fact, and seems to base most of his information on preconceived notions about the industry.
It is important that those who have difficulties gambling responsibly receive help and those who enjoy the activity without problems do so in an environment free of recrimination. Our efforts are not unlike organizations that extend assistance to individuals who abuse credit cards. These people deserve help, but their problems should not be blamed on the credit system, nor should those who use credit cards responsibly be penalized due to the problems of a limited number of people who cannot use the cards responsibly.
With regard to Mr. Winokur’s reference to a California professor’s suggestion that there is a possible link between suicides and gambling, it is critical to examine other important elements before jumping to conclusions. Dr. David Phillips’ research openly states that his findings “suggest but do not prove that gamblers experience abnormally high risks of suicide.” Not surprisingly, however, some in the media have been quick to jump to their own conclusions. The fact is that Dr. Phillips’ study admits there are a number of other factors that could contribute to increased suicide levels.
Dr. Phillips’ conclusions are also inconsistent with a recent study conducted by the Center for Disease Control, which, in August 1997, found that suicide rates vary considerably among states and regions. The CDC report found that Hawaii and Utah, states with no legalized gaming, had higher suicide rates than Connecticut, Illinois and New Jersey, all states with a large influx of gaming. In fact, New Jersey had the 2nd lowest suicide rate in the nation, even with the existence of casinos for 20 years. The study found that Western regions of the United States, such as Nevada and Wyoming (which has no casinos) were found to have higher suicide rates for reasons linked to isolation, migration and a growing population. In fact, an examination of Nevada found that Las Vegas had a lower suicide rate than rural areas of the state. This study seems to indicate that the presence of casino gaming cannot be correlated with high suicide rates.
The fact that Dr. Phillips’ study cannot determine which individuals in these communities have killed themselves because of gambling is a major missing link to the puzzle, and it seems irresponsible to draw conclusions based on coincidence. It would be similar to suggesting that because Nevada’s infant mortality rate is well below the national average, it must be related to the fact that there is casino gambling there. Both parts of this statement are true, but surely we need more conclusive evidence to make such claims, don’t you think?
Sincerely,
Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.