Columnist Jeff German: New hope for problem gamblers

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 | 11:07 a.m.

It has been a long time coming, but Nevada and its wealthy casino industry have finally acknowledged that problem gambling no longer can be ignored.

On Monday the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on a bill that, for the first time ever, will create a state-funded program to treat gambling addicts.

"This is momentous," says Dr. Robert Hunter, a clinical psychologist who treats problem gamblers in Las Vegas. "This is history being made.

"Nevada is joining the modern world and acknowledging that problem gambling, while it affects a small percentage of gamblers, is a very significant public health issue."

Gov. Kenny Guinn got the ball rolling in January when he included $200,000 in his budget over the next two years to treat addicts. He also won a commitment from the casino industry to donate another $200,000.

But Senate Bill 357 goes way beyond that, setting aside $2.5 million over two years to jump-start the fund. The money would come from slot machine taxes, and the fund would fall under the supervision of the Nevada Department of Human Resources.

If the measure passes, a special nine-member advisory committee, which would include casino industry members and health professionals, would be appointed by the governor to help Human Resources disperse the money.

The best part of SB357, however, is the provision that would allow the fund to accept private donations. This would leave plenty of room for the fund to grow and give the casino industry a chance to make up for years of neglecting the problem.

Previous efforts to create a treatment fund have failed miserably at the Legislature.

But there is much optimism in Carson City this time.

Guinn supports SB357, and so does the influential Nevada Resort Association, the lobbying arm of the casino industry.

The bill's most influential backer, however, is none other than Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, who chairs the Finance Committee. Raggio signed on as a co-sponsor.

Other co-sponsors include Republican Sens. Randolph Townsend of Reno and Dennis Nolan of Las Vegas, who have spent much time listening to horror stories about the lack of assistance for gambling addicts.

Townsend believes the stars have lined up this session for pathological gamblers.

"The Legislature has finally realized that this is a state issue and not just an industry issue," he says.

What Townsend and others like about SB357 is that very little of the $2.5 million would be spent on administrative costs.

The vast majority of the money would go directly toward getting problem gamblers the counseling they need.

It's a dream come true for Dr. Hunter, whose Problem Gambling Center is bursting with patients looking for hope of a better life.

Hunter says SB357 will bring gambling addicts out of the closet and reduce the social costs they've been creating for the state.

"Gamblers tend to suffer in silence compared to other addicts because help isn't readily available," Hunter says.

But it looks like help is on the way -- at last.