Georgia group challenges findings of national gambling panel

Monday, April 3, 2000 | 10:49 a.m.

The Public Sector Gaming Study Commission, whose members include Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes and the director of the Georgia Lottery, Rebecca Paul, said the national commission overdramatized the problem and argued that pathological gambling is rare. However, it said more study is needed.

The group was created last year to respond to the report by the congressionally-created National Gambling Impact Study Commission.

Most of the 11 members, like Barnes and Paul, hold government jobs. The group was funded with $200,000 in public and private contributions, including money from gaming interests, said Florida state Sen. Steven Geller, the chairman.

Geller complained that the national commission was dominated by pro-casino and anti-gambling interests with no public sector involvement.

Among other things, the group said its research showed that casinos have a positive effect on the economy in depressed areas but may adversely affect established entertainment businesses in those areas.

The group also said there is no evidence that state-run lotteries constitute a tax on the poor, as some critics claim.

"Research doesn't bear that out," said Geller. But he said still more research should be done.