"Turning the
Tables on Gambling" Press Release
Gambling Addictions Continue To Rise
Multi-Billion Dollar Industry Targets Teens; Poor and Senior Citizens
Edmonds, Washington - From young teens to senior citizens,
gambling is taking a toll on Americans - and it is not just about money. Gambling is no
longer confined to places like Las Vegas or Atlantic City. It is everywhere-the Internet,
state lotteries, race tracks, sporting events and slot machine in convenience stores.
The gambling industry has grown tenfold in the past twenty-five years. Internet
gambling alone accounts for two billion in annual revenues and this figure doesn’t
even account for the countless number of people addicted to day trading. With state run
lotteries now operating in 37 states and the District of Columbia, Scores of People -
mostly from low income households -are hooked. According to therapist Dr. Gregory Jantz,
"one of the strongest voices in
our society-government-is using its power to promote gambling as a way to increase
revenue."
The author of "Turning the Tables on Gambling" (Shaw/Waterbrook),
Jantz believes the so-called harmless purchase of lottery tickets can be a source of
potential trouble. The revenue that is generated through the sale of lottery tickets does
not add funds to the education budgets of most states. Instead, states simply divert funds
to other parts of their budget. But Jantz is particularly concerned about the way the
gambling industry is targeting young people. "We now live in a culture encouraging an
activity that destroys a percentage of the lives it touches." says Jantz. "Young
people experience problems, or at-risk gambling behaviors at twice the rate of
adults."
Gambling has become a high profile and socially acceptable activity in the
United States. As TV shows like;"Who Wants to be a Millionaire"
vie for viewer time; the desire for excitement or to get rich quick can become
overwhelming. Conservative estimates show more than 15 million people display some signs
of gambling addiction. If current trends continue, this number will continue to rise
-destroying marriages, forcing bankruptcies, and jeopardizing employment. Problem gamblers
have higher rates of suicide, divorce and criminal activity than non gamblers. And
for young people, the increase in lottery play is correlated with increased participation
in the use of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana.
Dr. Jantz offers specific advice - and encouragement for those caught in the vicious cycle
of gambling. He recommends an accountability group, avoidance of tempting environments,
giving up control of one’s finances for a season, and recognizing gambling as
tantamount to idolatry. Perhaps most important, Jantz uncovers the underlying reasons
people in our culture get caught up in gambling-offering a way of escape for young and old alike.
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