Dear Legislator,
To those who have signed in support of permanent funding for problem gambling treatment, thank you. To others, please read the following overview of the rapid expansion of gambling you and your colleagues have endorsed. An easy comparison is made between that endorsement and the contributions made to prevention and treatment of problem gambling disorders in the community. I urge you to send your vote of support now, through our web site: www.secondchancewa.org.
Thank you for your consideration,
Jennifer McCausland
“ Politicians begin by legalizing some restricted forms of gambling…after watching their initial successes decline, they frenetically start upping the ante. They legalize new games or they dismantle the restrictions and betting limits on their old ones.” - Robert Goodman; Professor of Environment Design Planning Hampshire College.
GAMBLING EXPANSION
|
Year |
Gambling growth action by state |
Number of Licenses* |
Net Gambling Receipts** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1973 |
WA State Gambling Commission (WSGC) is created. |
859 |
|
|
1974 |
Social card rooms authorized |
|
|
|
1982 |
State Lottery authorized |
3758 |
$74 million |
|
1983 |
First Indian tribe opens casino |
|
|
|
1996 |
Legislature increases card room tables from 5 to 15. |
3751 |
$384.4 million |
|
1997 |
Legislature authorizes House-Banked card rooms. |
|
|
|
1999 |
Tribes begin operating Tribal Lottery system machines.
Legislature opened 27 House-banked card rooms (for a total of 48.)
|
3470 |
$618.9 million |
|
2003 |
Legislature added 17 house-banked card rooms (for total of 80.) |
2994 |
$1.1 billion |
|
2004 |
WSGC increased betting limit for card rooms $100 to $300
Legislature legalized Internet and telephone horse race betting, providing 21 sanctioned off-track betting sites across the state.
|
|
|
* Net gambling receipts = Gross gambling receipts minus prizes paid from bingo, punchboard, pull-tabs, card rooms and others.
** Net gambling receipts = Gross gambling receipts minus prizes paid from bingo, punchboard, pull-tabs, card rooms and others. Does not include Lottery or Horse Racing Commission data. |
SUPPORT FOR PROBLEM GAMBLING
2000: Washington Lottery Commission adopted a Responsible Gaming Resolution. *
2000: The Lottery partially funds the WSCPG toll-free telephone help line.*
The Washington Lottery produced a Problem Gambling Public Service Announcement. *
2002: Legislature passes a single appropriation of $500,000 for treatment funding. Surplus Dollars reverted to the general fund.
2002:WSGC withdraws financial support for Washington State Council on Problem Gambling
* From Washington State Lottery website. |
