Compared to Nevada, New Jersey or any state where the gambling activities are widespread, New York is the state that has the biggest profit and the highest revenue, coming from gambling. However, it is also the state where the authorities don’t seem to be too concerned about the gambling addiction issues.
In brief, the annual income from different lottery games, racinos and various betting activities is equal to more than $3 billion. Strange as it may seem, a bit over $2 million is the sum set aside for dealing with the gambling addiction and the players obsessed with taking part in various gaming activities without realizing the vicious circle they are at.
James Maney said that such a modest sum is absolutely insufficient for helping people in need. New York has been a leader in providing legalized gaming activities for a long time and it currently has five casinos and nine racinos. The income of the local Lottery is $8 billion annually. New York is also a runner up to California, as far as the quantity of the lottery tickets sold and the number of people who visit casinos is concerned.
Four more casinos are likely to open doors in New York pretty soon. The authorities are currently reviewing different proposals and the main reason why they are willing to give a permission for more casinos to be built is that the new casinos will have a great contribution to the annual revenue and more significant funds will be set aside and respectively given to organisations that fight the gambling addiction.
Of course, the idea has its opponents. According to the politician Steven Cymbrowitz the more gambling opportunities the residents have, the more addiction problems should be expected to raise.
Currently, between half a million and one million of the New Yorkers are said to have gambling addiction issues, which can have a really negative impact on their financial, mental condition and personal matters.
According to the New York gambling rules and regulations, the future casinos will be obliged to pay a tax of $500 for every slot machine or table game they have in order to support the programs that are against the gambling addiction.
The owners will also be required to provide clear strategies for dealing with the delicate problem.
Surprising or not, casino owners are willing to help and truly support the idea. Jan Jones, a Caesars’ representative, says that the gambling addiction doesn’t bring benefits to the industry and the Caesars’ managers and employees want everyone who visit their casinos to set their own limits and play for fun.
Steve Block, the President of the New York Council on Problem Gaming, who has gone through the gambling addiction himself, said that the matters can only get worse unless urgent actions are taken.
