Las Vegas Sun

November 9, 2009

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Editorial: Gaming company steps up for clinic

Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000 | 9:22 a.m.

Station Casinos Inc. deserves applause for making a $50,000 grant that will help local psychologists and counselors open a low-cost clinic for problem gamblers on Tuesday.

As reported by the Sun's David Strow, the Problem Gambling Center, set to open Tuesday in northwest Las Vegas, will offer treatment for $5 a session. A similar low-cost program that operated in Las Vegas closed about two years ago. That left patients seeking help with the option of needing insurance coverage or making full payments, a choice many could not afford.

Station Casinos is not the only member of the gaming industry concerned about problem gambling, however. The Bellagio resort provides its employees with insurance to cover problem gambling treatment programs. Arizona Charlie's makes available problem gambling brochures.

Anything the gaming industry can do to help alleviate problem gambling ought to be encouraged. But we also hope the industry is truly motivated to help such gamblers, rather than simply paying lip service to gaming critics. Recognition of gambling problems is a good first step for the casinos as well as for the patients.

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