THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY SCHRODER, HARKINS, BAKER, BOYD, CLYMER, FABRIZIO, GINGRICH, HENNESSEY, HICKERNELL, KAUFFMAN, MAJOR, MILLARD, OBERLANDER, READSHAW, ROCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, VULAKOVICH AND WAGNER, FEBRUARY 28, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAMING OVERSIGHT, FEBRUARY 28, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of March 2011 as "Problem Gambling

Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania and observing the week of

March 6 through 12, 2011, as "National Problem Gambling

Awareness Week."

WHEREAS, Some individuals across the country and in this

Commonwealth enjoy the recreational aspects of legalized

gambling; and

WHEREAS, For some individuals and families, gambling becomes

an issue affecting and disrupting the lives of these individuals

and their families; and

WHEREAS, In 1997, the Harvard Medical School Division on

Addictions estimated there were 7.5 million American adult

problem and pathological gamblers. This same study also

estimated there were 7.9 million American adolescent problem and

pathological gamblers; and

WHEREAS, The National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the

University of Chicago found that the presence of a gambling

facility within 50 miles roughly doubles the prevalence of

problem and pathological gamblers; and 

WHEREAS, The NORC reports that children of compulsive

gamblers are often prone to suffer abuse and neglect as a result

of parental problem or pathological gambling. These same

children of compulsive gamblers also consistently show higher

rates of pathological gambling. In addition, children of problem

gamblers have been shown to have higher levels of use for

tobacco, alcohol, drug use and overeating than do their

classroom peers; and

WHEREAS, The National Research Council reported on two

studies indicating between 10% and 17% of children of compulsive

gamblers had been abused; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Research Council, studies

indicate that 25% to 50% of spouses of pathological gamblers

have been abused; and 

WHEREAS,  The National Research Council also reports that

case studies of ten casino communities revealed that the

majority of those communities witnessed increases in domestic

violence related to the opening of casinos; and

WHEREAS, Studies of Gamblers Anonymous (GA) members report

that approximately half of the participants had stolen to gamble

and more than one-third had been arrested. The vast majority of

gambling-related crimes are nonviolent: embezzlement, check

forgery, stealing credit cards, fencing stolen goods, tax

evasion, insurance fraud, employee theft and fraud; and

WHEREAS, A major depressive disorder is likely to occur in

76% of pathological gamblers; and

WHEREAS, The National Gambling Impact Study Commission

estimated the annual cost to society for problem gambling was $5

billion; and

WHEREAS, Problem gambling should be considered a public

health issue affecting individuals of all ages, races and ethnic

backgrounds in all communities and having a significant societal

and economic cost; and

WHEREAS, Problem gambling is treatable, and treatment is

effective in minimizing the harm to both individuals and society

as a whole; and

WHEREAS, The National Council on Problem Gambling is

coordinating the 9th Annual National Problem Gambling Awareness

Week campaign during March 6 through 12, 2011, which seeks to

educate the public about the impact of problem gambling and the

availability of treatment options; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of March 2011 as "Problem Gambling Awareness Month" in

Pennsylvania and observe the week of March 6 through 12, 2011,

as "National Problem Gambling Awareness Week"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to continue its outreach

efforts and to work with the Pennsylvania gaming industry as a

whole and with slot machine licensees to develop and implement

problem gambling programs at licensed facilities and further

promote community-based programs in this Commonwealth; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the Bureau

of Drug and Alcohol Programs within the Department of Health,

the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and individuals,

professionals and organizations dedicated to public awareness

and the treatment of problem gambling to jointly create, develop

and promote public awareness campaigns regarding the recognition

and prevention of problem gambling; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all the

citizens of this Commonwealth to learn more about problem

gambling and the programs available to help individuals and

their families who have been adversely affected by this issue.