No details yet on Illinois’ plans for gambling programs

James Webb

Sunday, May 14, 2000 | 10:29 a.m.

CHICAGO - It didn't take long for Gov. George Ryan to respond after he was stung by news that his plans for funding compulsive gambling programs had failed to make it into the state budget.

One week after word got out, Ryan announced at a May 3 compulsive gambling hearing held by the Illinois Gaming Board that his Department of Human Services would find $1 million in its budget to begin funding such programs on July 1.

Illinois is alone among the Midwest's riverboat casino states in not funding programs to deal with compulsive gambling, and Ryan's statement earned him praise from lawmakers, regulators, the casino industry and anti-gambling activists.

But since then, there have been no details on what might happen come July.

Tom Green, a spokesman for the human services agency, said last week the department is still evaluating and reviewing the governor's directive.

"We're just not sure yet where that's going to go, and don't have the answers to your questions yet, but hopefully we will soon," Green said.

Gaming Board Administrator Sergio Acosta said that over the next month he expects Human Services officials to formulate ideas after meeting with his agency, which regulates the state's riverboat casinos, as well as the Illinois Lottery and the state's horse racing regulators.

"It's really kind of early in the process," Acosta said.

Ryan's budget proposal called for $2 million to be spent on treatment, research and education. In his May 3 announcement, Ryan specifically called for money to be spent on making the public aware of the problem and private resources they can contact. He also said money should be spent on a training program to help heath professionals work with compulsive gamblers and their families.

Ryan said he would seek additional money in the Legislature's fall session, although a spokeswoman for the state Senate's Republican majority has indicated Ryan should find the money within his current budget.

State Rep. Rosemary Mulligan, R-Des Plaines, a longtime proponent of state funding for compulsive gambling programs, said the Legislature is uneasy about the issue.

"If you acknowledge that it causes a problem with people with a gambling addiction, it makes it harder to use it as revenue. It begs the argument of should the state be into this," Mulligan said.

"Another reason is there is a certain element of the General Assembly and the taxpayers we represent that feel people with addictions have their own problems and we shouldn't have to pay for them," she said.

Mulligan wants to see the bulk of the money spent on a gambling hotline, training for counselors and studies on the addiction. Although the state's riverboats voluntarily fund a hotline for problem gamblers, Mulligan said the government should pay for it so that state officials can track statistics and the success of efforts to help people.

State Sen. Vince Demuzio, D-Carlinville, said he has constituents who have developed gambling problems since the advent of riverboat casinos. He thinks the state should help pay the significant cost of private treatment for people with serious problems.

"It's an addiction and it just is very difficult to shake," Demuzio said.

Christopher Anderson, an addiction counselor involved with compulsive gambling treatment efforts in Illinois and other states, said the intial money should be spent on awareness and training. Much more than $2 million is needed to fund a comprehensive program that would include treatment, Anderson said.

"The state has acted as an addict in denial," Anderson said. "I don't think that shifts overnight."