disordered gambling

Dear Editor,

There is absolutely no hard evidence to support the assertion that the economic recession has brought about an increase in disordered gambling (“Problem gambling apparently rising as recession deepens, experts say;” May 11).

In fact, U.S. gaming revenues have dropped precipitously since last July, indicating that consumers across the country are tightening their belts.

Dear Editor,

The possible addition of slot machines at Kentucky’s racetracks has sparked considerable debate throughout the state and in the pages of this newspaper. While the American Gaming Association does not take a position on expanded gambling, we would like to correct the misinformation included in the June 8 opinion piece, “Facts on gambling you haven’t heard.”

Dear Editor:

Cheryl Wetzstein’s recent article (“Psychiatrists Mull New Sex Disorders,” March 2) sheds light on a variety of important proposed changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), including the reclassification of pathological gambling as a behavioral addiction.

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.

Dear Editor:

Though the American Gaming Association does not take a position on expanded gambling, I feel compelled to respond to Lynne Woolley’s opinion piece “The Hidden Costs of Bringing Gambling to Texas.”

First, volumes of peer-reviewed studies have found no correlation between casinos and the social problems Ms. Woolley ascribes to the influence of gambling.

Dear Editor:

The June 2, 2010 article, “Equipment Maker Searches For Profit In The Mind Of The Gambler,” demonstrates, at best, a remarkable failure to understand the relationship between the gaming industry and our customers, and, at worst, reveals an anti-gaming bias.

I was deeply disappointed that the Inquirer chose to make light of last week’s terrible incident at Parx Casino (“Slots for tots,” June 19). Problem gambling must be addressed with thoughtful solutions, not flippancy and sarcasm.

In February, the American Psychiatric Society made headlines when it announced proposed changes to its encyclopedia of mental illness, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Though the new version of the manual, DSM-V, will not be published until 2013, the suggested revisions already have incited vigorous debate about a wide range of issues, including gambling.

Good morning. I’m Frank Fahrenkopf, president and CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA). I’d like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation for inviting me to join you here today.