Recommendations of study

Wednesday, June 2, 1999 | 9:39 a.m.

Recommendations the National Gambling Impact Study Commission is expected to make, subject to final votes this week, in its report to be submitted June 18:

-Betting on college athletics - part of legal sports betting in Nevada and Oregon - should be banned.

-State lotteries and other forms of government-sponsored gambling should discontinue aggressive marketing that targets impoverished neighborhoods or youth.

-Only those 21 and older should be allowed to gamble. The minimum age in many states for playing the lottery or gambling on horses is now 18.

-States should dedicate a portion of casino tax revenue to problem gambling research, prevention, education and treatment; tribal governments should make similar contributions.

-Indian tribes that run casinos should use some of the revenue as "seed money" to diversify their finances and reduce dependence on gambling.

-Governments should require "gambling impact statements" - akin to the environmental impact statements required of developers - before approving new or additional casinos, slot machines or lotteries.

-Automated teller machines should be banned from the area where betting takes place at casinos or racetracks.

-States should not allow casino-style gambling to be introduced at horse tracks or other pari-mutuel facilities for the primary purpose of bailing them out financially or competing with other forms of gambling.

-States should stop the proliferation of "convenience gambling" outlets, such as video gambling machines in neighborhood stores.

-"Cruises to nowhere" that offer gambling should be prohibited unless states specifically allow them to operate.

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Recommendations considered by the commission but not yet approved, and unlikely to be included in its final report:

-Impose federal tax on gambling proceeds.

-Impose state tax on lottery tickets.

-Require that states reach compact with neighbors before building casino within 50 miles of border.

-Let family members request that relative be excluded from gambling facility promotional mailings.

-Ban state lottery advertising.

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