The "Are you at risk?" quiz tries to nudge addicts out of denial. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling? Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone? After a win, did you have a strong urge to return and win more? (Those with multiple "yes" answers are urged to call 1-877-565-2112 for help.)
Still sure casinos are fun for all? Try these numbers on for size:
Five percent of Americans become problem gamblers. Of those, 75 percent suffer from depression, and 65 percent break the law to feed the habit.
Scariest of all? One in five problem gamblers attempts suicide.
Mixed messages
Far be it from me to remind politicians to stay on message, but it was slightly bizarre that outgoing Gov. Rendell pooh-poohed problem gambling the same day his health commissioner launched the well-intentioned, if horribly designed, problem-gambling website.
"Gaming has been a terrific success!" Rendell raved Monday at a news conference. "The social costs have been fairly minimal. We have literally only a handful of people coming into our free-treatment programs. . . . Those programs are dramatically underutilized."
Act 71 requires casinos to put money in a Compulsive and Problem Gaming Fund. To date, $12.9 million is available, but just $115,000 has been spent on counseling for a mere 225 addicts.
Something is dreadfully wrong with those stats and Rendell's ridiculous contention that low demand for treatment so far means few people are suffering.
Health officials say it's been hard to find drowning gamblers, get them to admit they need assistance, and educate them about all the free help available. Hence the new website and marketing campaign.
