Letter: Gamblers not casinos’ concern

Friday, Aug. 11, 2000 | 9:48 a.m.

Several years ago Terry Lanni said, "If casinos are an integral part of what people want to do as a form of entertainment, why couldn't it be one-stop shopping?

"It's almost like going to the mall, the old-fashioned shopping mall. I think there will be little difference between a major motion-picture studio, hotel-casino entertainment and a nongaming resort. They will be very, very similar. On that basis, 10 years from now the issue of gaming won't be a problem."

MGM Grand was like the old-fashioned mall at midnight on Tuesday. The baby-buggy parade came marching through the casino -- children were standing next to a mom while watching her play the slot machine, and babies were crying.

What is all this foolishness from MGM Grand spokeswoman Punam Mathur about Problem Gambling Awareness Week and employees being trained to spot pathological gamblers?

If compulsive and pathological gamblers quit gambling, the casinos would go out of business. Casino interests can fool some of the people some of the time, but they can't fool all of the people all of the time!

THERESA A. MATAGA

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