Nevada problem gambling study still not under way

Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2000 | 10:55 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A long-delayed study into the depth of gambling addiction in Nevada may soon be ready to start.

Authorized 17 months ago, the state has not yet completed the bid specifications for the $150,000 survey to see how serious the problem is in Nevada.

Charlotte Crawford, director of the state Department of Human Resources, which was put in charge of the project, said Monday she hoped the request for proposals is in its final draft. Once that is completed the state can ask for companies to submit their proposals and their price.

"We needed to take a longer period of time to get this," she said, referring to the specifications required for the study.

Originally the survey results were projected to be completed by the early stages of the 1999 Legislature. But it fell behind.

Dennis Neilander, a member of the state Gaming Control Board, said, "My goal was to get something in front of the Legislature. But it got put on the back burner."

Neilander was one of those who appeared before the Legislative Interim Finance Committee, pushing for the allocation. After the money was forthcoming, a committee went to work developing the guidelines for the study.

It is still working on the final draft. Crawford said some delay was experienced because of the change of administration from former Gov. Bob Miller to Gov. Kenny Guinn. And she said, "Defining problem gambling is not an easy problem."

While there's a study by the National Gambling Impact Study Commission and some surveys in other states, there's no data in Nevada that defines the prevalence of the overall problem or cites ages, gender, and social circumstances of problem gamblers.

There's also no state program to treat gambling addicts. Crawford said the data are needed to define if there's a need and what services should be offered.

Lack of a study did not stop Station Casinos, which earlier this month allocated $50,000 to start a treatment center in northwest Las Vegas to help those with problems. Psychologists and counselors will staff the center, which will offer treatment for as little as $5.

The emergency state appropriation of $150,000 was authorized in September 1998 by the Legislative Interim Finance Committee. Several lawmakers backed the study, saying the state needed to identify and take care of its own problems, rather than letting the federal government move into this field.

The human resources department found extra federal money, so it has repaid the $150,000 to the emergency fund of the Legislature.

The money won't permit a "huge study," Crawford said. "It will be a very targeted study ... what's the prevalence ... I doubt we will get a lot more."