Columnist Jeff German: Problem gamblers will remain

Tuesday, June 10, 2003 | 11:08 a.m.

Taking care of the state's problem gamblers just wasn't a priority this year for lawmakers struggling to find a tax plan to balance the state's $4.9 billion budget.

But that doesn't ease the disappointment of watching those lawmakers, for the second legislative session in a row, turn their backs on the thousands of people who have fallen prey to the state's chief industry.

Senate Bill 349, which would have allocated $250,000 to treat problem gamblers, never even came up for a vote before the close of the regular session, and it is not scheduled to be heard in the current special session.

The irony is that lawmakers already have spent more on the special session to cover their regular session failings than what it would cost to fund SB349. Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Lorne Malkiewich estimates that the first week of the special session cost taxpayers $280,000.

Once more Nevada, the nation's model for legalized gambling, holds the distinction of not paying a dime toward helping the thousands of addicts gambling has created in this state. This is occurring while other states with a significantly smaller gambling presence are spending millions of dollars on the problem.

"The travesty just continues here," said Robert Hunter, a psychologist who runs the only treatment facility in Las Vegas for problem gamblers.

The casino industry, which funds 90 percent of Hunter's $170,000 annual budget, backed SB349, but obviously not hard enough. Gaming was more worried about limiting its tax liabilities this session.

And Gov. Kenny Guinn, who believes the industry, not the state, has the responsibility to take care of problem gamblers, never lifted a finger to get this bill through the Legislature.

With no one pushing them, lawmakers just let the measure die.

This short-sightedness is hard to understand.

The people waiting in line to attend Hunter's treatment program come from a broad range of society. They include the expected drug addicts and alcoholics. They also include professionals -- lawyers, teachers and accountants. All have friends and families.

Various scientific studies have estimated the social cost of problem gamblers in Southern Nevada as ranging from $12 million to $300 million a year.

Even if you take the $12 million figure, which the industry prefers to cite, putting $250,000 into a public fund to help addicts stop their downward spiral seemingly would have saved the state a lot of money on the back end. The casino industry also might have been encouraged to contribute to the fund, which would have given the state the ability to reach out to even more compulsive gamblers.

When you consider the many other failings of the 2003 Legislature, it probably was too much to expect lawmakers to see the merits of taking care of this problem.

Now we have to wait another two years for them to get off their duffs and do the right thing.

Maybe the 2005 Legislature, which should have plenty of new faces after the voters vent their anger next year, will show more foresight -- and more responsibility.