Tribes donating $103,000 for addiction programs

Dale Wetzel

Friday, Jan. 3, 2003 | 9:47 a.m.

BISMARCK, N.D. -- North Dakota's Indian tribes are contributing $103,000 in casino profits to provide treatment for compulsive gamblers, the director of the state Mental Health Association said.

Without the efforts of the five tribes, the association would not be able to offer services for problem gamblers, Allan Stenehjem said Thursday.

"Quite honestly, without their involvement ... this program wouldn't be available. Plain and simple," Stenehjem said. "The dollars wouldn't be available. We wouldn't be able to fund the resources, and get people the treatment that they need."

The association, which is based in Bismarck, operates a toll-free telephone line that people may call for help with a variety of problems. Stenehjem said the tribes' contribution will be used to operate and advertise the service, and refer compulsive gamblers to treatment programs.

North Dakota's tribes operate casinos on the state's five reservations. The Standing Rock Sioux, Spirit Lake Sioux, Three Affiliated Tribes, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux tribes are providing the money.

Tex Hall, chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes, said other tribes that operate casinos support counseling for compulsive gamblers. However, North Dakota is the nation's only example of a state's tribes teaming up with other organizations to help finance treatment programs, Hall said.

"It is the only way, I believe, that it is going to keep this problem in check," Hall said. "If we do it piecemeal, it will not have the benefits that it could."

Warren DeKrey of Bismarck, a spokesman for the North Dakota Council on Gambling Problems, called the contribution "an attempt to gain credibility."

"It's a beginning, but it's kind of like a drop in the bucket," DeKrey said. "It could help some, but there's a great need."

A January 2001 study estimated that more than 14,000 North Dakotans were problem gamblers. Five thousand people were interviewed for the study, which concluded that gambling frequency among North Dakotans had declined from 1992 to 2000.

"The number of people who participate in a regular basis, or at all, over the course of a year is down," Stenehjem said. "What we see, though, is those with a gambling addiction is up."

Kurt Luger, director of the Great Plains Indian Gaming Association, said the tribes have been providing treatment money since 1996. To date, they have contributed about $350,000, Luger said.

"Having compulsive gamblers ... is bad business," Luger said. "Our attitude to begin with was that (support of treatment programs) was good policy, that it was a good-neighbor piece, and that it was good business."

Stenehjem said this year's $103,000 figure for this year represents a 21 percent increase over the 2002 tribal contribution of $85,000. The Legislature has been setting aside $150,000 for treatment over two years.

Aside from the tribal donation, Stenehjem said the Mental Health Association will be soliciting contributions from manufacturers and suppliers of gambling equipment, along with more than 150 North Dakota charities that run gambling operations.

State-regulated gambling is conducted by nonprofit organizations, ranging from civic clubs to American Legion posts, convention and visitors' bureaus, schools and volunteer fire departments.

Stenehjem said he hoped to raise $50,000 from the solicitations, which are being mailed to the groups. The request letter asks for a $1,000 contribution, which can be made from a group's gambling profits.

"We need to let people know that they can come forward, and help is available," Stenehjem said.

The association's toll-free line now takes about 6,000 calls annually, Stenehjem said. Of those, about 300 have been related to gambling problems. He expects that number to increase as information about treatment is more widely distributed, Stenehjem said.