1.  Jno. 8:32 - Millions of people need God’s truth on gambling so that they may be freed from its insidious & destructive grip!

2.  Defined: "To play at any game of chance for stakes…to stake or risk money, or anything of value, on the outcome of something involving chance…bet; wager…any matter or things involving risk or hazardous uncertainty" (Random House College Dictionary, pg. 542).

3.  A stake is involved whereby one stands to gain at the loss of others, depending upon the outcome of some arbitrarily element of chance.

4.  Gambling differs from risk (cf. farming, stocks & bonds, etc.):

  a.  In gambling one stands to gain at the loss of others, the deciding factor being an event arbitrarily selected.

  b.  In farming, etc., profit is not sought at the expense of others & risk is not contrived - hard work, investment of time, money, etc.

  5.  Gambling takes different forms:

• horse racing

• punchboards and pulltabs

• fund raising events such as casino nights, bingo, raffles, amusement games

• contests of chance operated by charitable and nonprofit organizations

• card rooms

• the lottery

• casinos and bingo halls operated by Native American tribes.

-Washington State Council on Problem Gambling (WSCPG)

  a.  Widespread: Over 50,000,000 Americans gamble.

GAMBLING AND PROBLEM GAMBLING IN WASHINGTON STATE:

A REPLICATION STUDY, 1992 TO 1998

Report to the Washington State Lottery

Rachel A. Volberg, Ph.D.

W. Lamar Moore, M.S.

  b.  "Problem" gambling in the state of Washington:

-Problem Gambling...
...is gambling behavior which causes disruption in any major area of life: psychological, physical, social or vocational. The term "Problem Gambling" includes, but is not limited to, the condition known as "Pathological," or "Compulsive" Gambling, a progressive addiction characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, "chasing" losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences. (National Council on Problem Gambling, Inc., web site)

GAMBLING AND PROBLEM GAMBLING IN WASHINGTON STATE:

A REPLICATION STUDY, 1992 TO 1998

Report to the Washington State Lottery

Rachel A. Volberg, Ph.D.

W. Lamar Moore, M.S.

6.  Gambling vocabulary (euphemisms): "Gaming," "compulsive gamblers," "problem gamblers," "pathological gamblers"..... SIN!

7.  What is wrong with gambling? Should a Christian gamble?

I.  GAMBLING VIOLATES LEGITIMATE ECONOMY.

  A.  Three Legitimate Means Of Transferring Property:

    1.  Law of labor: Money is earned by effort expended.

    2.  Law of exchange: Buying & selling, investments, etc.

    3.  Law of love: Where money is given w/o expectation or desire for return. -Gambling does not qualify in any of these.

  B.  God Recognizes These Principles Of Economy And Authorizes Them.

    1.  Labor - Eph. 4:28; 2 Thess. 3:l2; Luke 10:7.

    2.  Buying & selling - Matt. 13:44; Matt. 25:27 - Investment.

    3.  Giving & receiving - Eph. 4:28; Acts 2:45 - Voluntary gift to needy.

    4.  Gambling is a violation of all of these:

    5.  It is a parasite on legitimate economy & exists w/o divine sanction.

II.  GAMBLING VIOLATES DIVINE LAW.

    -("Not specifically mentioned in Bible, how can it be wrong?")

    -(Not all specific sins are mentioned: Rape, child molestation, etc. The Bible sets forth principles whereby specific conduct may be discerned as good or evil.)

  A.  It Violates Private Industry Which God Ordained For Man & Makes Him Unfit For This Mission In Life - Gen. 3:19.

    1.  One’s income is to come from his own hard work:

      a.  1 Ths. 4:11-12 - Work...Have need of nothing.

      b.  2 Ths. 3:10 - If one won’t work, not a charity case!

    2.  The gambler profits solely at another person’s loss. (cf. Casinos)

    3.  In using money to gamble, one evades his responsibility to provide for himself and his family.  Lk. 16:10-13 (Involves tragic waste!)

    4.  Gambling perpetuates the "get something for nothing" mentality.

  B.  The Essential Motive For Gambling Is Covetousness (Greed).

    1.  It seeks the rewards of another man’s efforts. (Get rich quick!)

    2.  "To fix passion upon," "To long inordinately for."

    3.  l Tim. 6:10 - Love of money is the root of gambling.

  C.  Gambling Is Accompanied By Other Evils.

    1.  Matt. 7:16 - Know by its fruits. (Jas. 3:11-12)

    2.  Fruits of gambling: Greed, broken homes, theft, organized crime, murder, drinking, suicide.

  D.  Gambling Is Opposed To The Good Of Society.

    -Economic liability; Attracts the criminal element. (Creates a lawless environment); gov’t creates bureaucracy to oversee it. (Prov. 14:34)

  E.  Gambling Does Not Promote Godliness.

    1.  Phil. 4:8 - Can these things be said of gambling?

    2.  l Thess. 5:22 - Abstain from appearance of evil.

    3.  Matt. 5:16; Titus 2:7 - To exert good influence.

    4.  Jas. 4:4 - Christians are not of the world.

    5.  1 Tim. 6:17-19 - Stewards of our money to further the Lord’s work.

  F.  Neither The Amount Of The Wager Nor The Benefactor Of Your Losses Changes Gambling Into An Innocent Activity.

    1.  The amount of the wager does’t change its nature...gambling -- sin. (cf. Lottery)

    2.  "It’s for a good cause" (cf. bingo for a church, a school, Whatcom County Crisis Council) does not change that it violates God’s will!

    3.  Gambling is not wrong only for those who cannot afford to lose!

Gambling is evil for secular & spiritual reasons. The child of God must not practice gambling in any way, shape or form!

____________________

"Companion Bills have been introduced in the State Legislature to address the growing issue of Problem Gambling. Both Bills would transfer $300,000 over two years to the existing Problem Gambling Program overseen by the State Gambling Commission. The funds would be taken from the Lottery’s advertising budget. " (Press Release, February 4, 1999, LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS PROBLEM GAMBLING BILLS)

http://www.wscpg.org/prmarch4.htm

Bill Passed, with comment from Gary Hanson, Executive Director of the Washington State Council on Problem Gambling (WSCPG).

• Washington State Council on Problem Gambling (WSCPG):

"Residents of Washington State can participate in an number of legal gambling activities. These are: horse racing, punchboards and pulltabs, fund raising events such as casino nights, bingo, raffles, amusement games, contests of chance operated by charitable and nonprofit organizations, card rooms, the lottery, and casinos and bingo halls operated by Native American tribes."

• PROBLEM GAMBLING IN WASHINGTON STATE

Residents of Washington State can participate in an number of legal gambling activities. These are: horse racing, punchboards and pulltabs, fund raising events such as casino nights, bingo, raffles, amusement games, contests of chance operated by charitable and nonprofit organizations, card rooms, the lottery, and casinos and bingo halls operated by Native American tribes.

The first comprehensive survey of problem gambling in Washington State was conducted in late 1992. This survey, funded by the lottery, examined the types of gambling, the amounts of money spent, and any problems resulting from gambling activity. The results were compared to other states in which similar studies had been conducted.

The key findings include:

• 91 percent of the respondents had gambled at some time in their lives. Of this number, up to 158,000 Washington State residents will become problem gamblers at some time in their lives, and up to 75,000 will become pathological gamblers. The study also indicated that up to 93,000 residents were current problem gamblers, and up to 49,000 were pathological gamblers.

• A second study focused on problem gambling and adolescents. This study concluded that 83 percent of Washington State adolescents had participated in some form of gambling activity. Of these young gamblers, up to 33,000 were at risk for problem gambling, and up to 4,700 were already problem gamblers.

• There are a limited number of mental health professionals in the state who have had specific training on the identification and treatment of compulsive gambling. Furthermore, there are no publicly or privately funded inpatient or outpatient treatment programs for compulsive gamblers in Washington. The nearest inpatient treatment program is located in Las Vegas, Nevada.

• Most of the help available for problem gambling is provided by Gamblers Anonymous, a program patterned loosely after Alcoholics Anonymous. In addition, the Washington State Council on Problem Gambling, which is partially funded by the Gambling Commission, provides a number of services. These services include: a toll-free information and referral hotline (funded by the State Lottery); public education and awareness; training of mental health professionals and others; and a newsletter to mental health professionals, community groups and others interested in the issue of problem gambling.

THE FUTURE

The occurrence of problem gambling is certain to remain a concern, and is likely to increase. There is a great need in Washington State for the expansion of training programs for mental health professionals, gaming industry representatives, criminal justice system personnel, and state agency personnel. Also, there is a need for increased public awareness and education programs on the subject of problem gambling. In addition, there is a great need for an increase in education and prevention programs specifically targeted for teenagers and young adults.

GAMBLING AND PROBLEM GAMBLING IN WASHINGTON STATE:

A REPLICATION STUDY, 1992 TO 1998

Report to the Washington State Lottery

Rachel A. Volberg, Ph.D.

W. Lamar Moore, M.S.

Gemini Research, Ltd.

P.O. Box 628

Northampton, MA 01060

(413) 584-4667

www.geminiresearch.com

According to the most recent population estimates from the United States Bureau of the Census (1999a), the population of Washington State aged 18 and over in 1997 was 4,155,708. Based on these figures, we estimate that between 114,300 (2.7%) and 193,200 (4.6%) Washington State residents aged 18 and over can be classified as lifetime problem gamblers. In addition, we estimate that between 30,300 (0.7%) and 77,700 (1.9%) Washington State residents aged 18 and over can be classified as lifetime probable pathological gamblers.

Based on current prevalence rates and confidence intervals as well as census information, we estimate that between 47,000 (1.1%) and 102,600 (2.5%) Washington State residents aged 18 and over can be classified as current problem gamblers. In addition, we estimate that between 6,200 (0.1%) and 35,300 (0.9%) Washington State residents aged 18 and over can be classified as current probable pathological gamblers.

Summary

In Washington State in 1992, 91% of the respondents acknowledged participating in one or more of the 19 gambling activities included in the questionnaire. In 1998, 89% of the respondents acknowledged participating in one or more of the 16 activities included in the questionnaire. Lifetime participation among Washington respondents is highest for instant or scratch lottery games, charitable gambling, out-of-state gambling and large jackpot lottery games.

Based on recent population estimates, there are between 47,000 and 102,600 current problem gamblers in Washington State. In addition, there are between 6,200 and 35,300 current probable pathological gamblers in Washington State. Prevalence rates are substantially higher among men, among respondents aged 18 to 24, among non-Whites and among those who have never married. Current prevalence rates are substantially higher among respondents who have not attended college and among those who are disabled, working part time or going to school.

Directions for the Future

The costs of gambling-related problems can be high, not only for individuals but for families and communities. Pathological gamblers experience physical and psychological stress and exhibit substantial rates of depression, alcohol and drug dependence and suicidal ideation. The families of pathological gamblers experience physical and psychological abuse as well as harassment and threats from bill collectors and creditors. Other significant impacts include costs to employers, creditors, insurance companies, social service agencies and the civil and criminal justice systems.

Recommendations

· continued monitoring of gambling and problem gambling prevalence in the state to assess the impacts of the introduction of new types of legal gambling on the residents of Washington State and to refine existing efforts to minimize the negative impacts of gambling.