My-Play System to Help Problem Gamblers

Here is a very interesting revelation thrown by the Nova Scotia Gaming Foundation recently. Nova Scotia Gaming Foundation is a not-for-profit government organization that supports an independent response to gambling problems in Nova Scotia. The group says there is hope for problem gamblers in the form of software that is specifically designed to prevent non-problem gamblers from becoming addicted.

In 2010, Nova Scotia introduced the My-Play system, a method that consists of players voluntarily using cards that are inserted into VLTs to automatically limit the player’s time at the Video Lottery Terminal to a predetermined duration. The Gaming Foundation extended their study to find out whether this system, namely My-Play System, could help high-risk players too.

Interestingly, the results were encouraging. High-risk players reported they could decrease their play, and control some aspects of their risky behavior. The low risk players, to whom this system was intended, reported no change in their behavior at all. The study is expected to go into its second phase for more findings to see if the My-Play System changes Video Lottery Terminal players’ attitudes and behaviors. Presently, Nova Scotia is the only place in Canada that uses this card system. One of the other countries that use the card system, Norway, has reported a noticeable drop in problem gambling.

Texans Favor Full Scale Casino Gambling

A new University of Texas/ Tribune poll shows that 56 percent of respondents favor full scale casino gambling. This has given a fillip to Texas lawmakers who were actively debating on bringing big time gambling into the state. Texas, facing a deficit of nearly $15 billion this year, is badly in need of additional income, and big scale gambling can fill this gap. Republicans in the state have been traditionally amongst the most conservative lawmakers, resisting any ideas to legalize casino gambling. Legalizing casinos are projected to raise revenue upward of $ 1 billion annually.

Plan For Indian Casino Rejected

The Interior Department rejected a plan to build a casino for Catskills, annulling a deal reached during the ending days of the Paterson administration. This decision is not expected to help improve the relations between the Indian Tribes and the New York State, a condition that is already at low ebb. In addition, the federal government’s rejection to build a $560 million Las Vegas style casino is expected to revive a land claim by a tribe based in Wisconsin.

A Bill Filed For Gambling Cost-Benefit Analysis

In Boston, Senator Stephen Brewer appointed to the State’s most powerful budget writing post is now supporting a legislation championed by anti gambling activists. This bill, if passed, will require a detailed cost-benefit exercise as a prerequisite to introduce slot parlors or casinos. Expanded gambling critics say a cost-benefit exercise is essential, since they assert that studies conducted earlier omitted vital details about the potential disadvantages of expanded gambling.

Some of the issues that the costs and benefits study of legalizing new forms of gambling will assess are:

• Impacts on communities that host these facilities within a 25 mile radius
• The increase in revenue to the state, but also the anticipated loss in revenue due to damage in certain businesses caused due to introduction of gambling
• The effect on the economy due to the jobs expanded gambling create, as also the adverse impact on the existing jobs that predate the expanded gambling.