Legislator proposes state action, funding on problem gambling

John Wilkerson

Friday, March 16, 2001 | 11:06 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A compulsive gambler who's a member of a pioneer Nevada casino family urged lawmakers Thursday to back a bill to help prevent problem gambling and treat those afflicted by the disease.

Rex Williams, son-in-law of the late Raymond "Pappy" Smith who founded Harold's Club in Reno, told the Senate Judiciary Committee that SB335 won't do much -- but at least it's a start.

"Bankruptcy, divorce, crime, lying, cheating, stealing are the realities of this addiction," said Williams, adding that the $250,000 allocation in SB335 could easily be 10 times higher.

Williams said there are as many as 20 million compulsive gamblers in the United States, and he's one of them -- just as his own father was.

"It's the dark side of gambling that no one wants to talk about," he said. "For us as a state, for you as a legislator, to turn a blind eye to the dark side of this industry is comparable to collusion."

Judiciary Chairman Mark James, R-Las Vegas, who sought SB335, said the measure is the first of its sort in this casino-dependent state - and shouldn't be seen as a criticism of gambling.

"If this bill is viewed as critical of anyone, it's critical of us for not addressing this issue until now," James said.

SB335 would allocate $250,000 from the state general fund to the Department of Human Resources for gambling addiction programs, add a member from the Nevada Council of Problem Gambling to the state's Gaming Policy Board, and require courses on problem gambling in public schools.

James also said the bill will give problem gamblers the same legal standing that alcoholics or drug addicts have in seeking access to sentencing alternatives - providing they finish treatment programs.

Harvey Whittemore, the state's top casino lobbyist, said the gambling industry has been funding research, education and training programs on problem gambling, including a Harvard Medical School study that found about 1 percent of the country's population has a significant gambling problem.

"The gaming industry's has taken a stance that one problem gambler is too many, regardless of the scope of the problem," Whittemore said.

Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, questioned the gambling industry's conviction because most states require casinos to fund programs as part of their licensing -- unlike Nevada.

"Isn't what the gambling industry has done in Nevada just window dressing?" she asked.

Rob Hunter of Problem Gambling Consultants said more treatment programs are needed. He added gambling addicts often wind up broke, and only recently have some insurance companies started covering problem gambling in their policies.

"We're dealing with folks at rock bottom," Hunter said. "I think this is the perfect Nevada charity, and it comes at a time when gambling in this state is coming under fire from a number of different directions."