Gaming briefs for April 8, 2004

Thursday, April 8, 2004 | 11:01 a.m.

Simulcast betting launched

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Oneida Bingo and Casino began offering off-track betting Wednesday.

The simulcast technology provides live greyhound and horse races from across the country via television screens. At least 144 races a day can be viewed.

Operators said it is the first casino in the state to offer off-track betting.

Mark Powless, off-track betting director, said the casino hopes to attract customers who otherwise would go to Illinois for race betting.

"Any bet they can make anywhere else, they can make here," he said.

Lawmakers tightening worker age requirement

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Casino employees who work in a gambling area would have to be at least 21 years old, under a bill sent to the full House of Representatives.

It's already illegal for anyone under 21 to play or even go into the gambling area of a casino, but the measure by Rep. Danny Martiny, R-Kenner, would make it clear they can't work there.

The bill drew opposition from several members of the House Criminal Justice Committee who expressed concern about discriminating against 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds.

Rep. Errol "Romo" Romero, D-New Iberia, said it's OK for that age group to join the military, but not to venture into a gambling area.

"What you're telling me is that it's more dangerous in a casino than in Iraq?" Romero said.

"Sometimes I think it is more dangerous," Martiny joked.

"It's certainly riskier," said State Police Capt. Dane Morgan, who oversees gambling regulation.

The House committee passed the bill in a 5-4 vote.

Treatment centers eyed

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- The Vermont Council on Problem Gambling is asking the Legislature for $300,000 to set up gambling treatment centers at four locations around the state.

Calls to Vermont's 24-hour gamblers hot line have increased from about 30 a month to 86 in December, said Joy Mitchell of Bellows Falls, who answers the calls.

"I can field all these calls," Mitchell told the Senate Appropriations Committee, "but some of these people want more."

She and Joel Rosinsky, a certified gambling counselor in Essex, outlined their proposal to set up four sites where they would offer out-patient counseling to compulsive gamblers.

Mitchell attributes the spike in calls to the lottery advertising, which not only promotes ticket sales but also counsels people to play responsibly. All the ads direct problem gamblers to help, including the telephone hot line.

The Vermont Lottery pays to advertise the hot line and for Mitchell to answer the calls.

The problem gambling council was one of two dozen agencies allotted 10 minutes each to make their requests for state dollars before the Senate Appropriations Committee. The legislative panel is writing next year's budget for state government. The House budget proposed $25,000 for gambling treatment.