A Needless Gamble or a Good Idea?

A Kansas law took effect in April, 2007 that allows state-owned casinos in four areas of Kansas. Ford County is expected to have an election June 26 on whether to permit a casino.

There are those who believe a casino can improve the local economy and draw tourists. Others question whether a casino would attract outside tourists and worry that it will attract crime and other social problems.

The current discussion of casino gambling in Dodge City prompts the Catholic Pastors of Ford County to review the moral and social issues related to gambling and to offer this statement as a guide for deliberations on this important issue.

THEOLOGICAL AND MORAL

PERSPECTIVES

Catholic teaching does not consider gambling to be intrinsically evil. Gambling when properly controlled can have positive aspects, such as offering legitimate recreation, providing funds for acceptable causes, and in some cases, enhancing local economies.

There are principles that govern the intentions of the person who gambles, as well as, the structure of the activity itself, which determine its morality in particular situations:

1. The money or possessions wagered can not be needed to support one’s family or to fulfill other just obligations.

2. A person must participate freely.

3. The revenues derived from gambling do not support any illegal or immoral enterprise.

4. The games of chance are operated fairly and every participant has an equal chance of winning or losing.

This is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

Games of Chance or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement. Unfair wages and cheating at games constitute grave matter…. (#2413)

PUBLIC POLICY AND

SOCIETAL PERSPECTIVES

The primary goal of public policy must always be to promote the common good and to protect individual rights. The potential negative consequences of expanded gambling need to be carefully evaluated. Gambling is itself morally neutral. But issues related to gambling can make it morally unacceptable. Those who participate in gambling are obliged to make conscientious, prudential judgments about their activity. This applies to governments that sponsor gambling, to owners of gambling establishments, and to patrons.

These conscientious and prudential judgments will mean that…

1. The moral and legal integrity of the games will be assured and involvement of any criminal element will be prevented.

2. Safeguards to discourage the abuse of gambling by individuals such as reasonable limits on the amounts that can be wagered and on gambling credit will be in place.

3. The State’s revenues will be enhanced without adding to the state’s social problems and law enforcement burdens.

4. The State will rely on equitable tax policies and not excessively on revenues from gambling.

5. The prohibition against underage gambling will be strictly enforced.

Legalized gambling which is not properly regulated involves considerable risks to individuals and communities with very negative consequences. If we choose to expand gambling in Kansas and specifically in Ford County, we have the obligation to minimize the dangers by safeguards like those recommended above. Otherwise, responsible citizens and organizations should oppose an expansion of legalized gambling in our State and County.

Our own parishes, together with other faith communities and people of good will need to ensure that social services and support systems will be available for those individuals and families that fall victim to the negative consequences that have been found in other communities where gambling has been expanded even with the best of intentions.

Gamblers urged to ‘set limits’

By David Myers

Southwest Kansas Register

Ford County has several resources in place to aid problem gamblers, should a casino come to Dodge City. In the mean time, addiction counselors strongly urge those who begin to think they might have a problem to come in for help -- sooner than later.

"I have worked with gamblers who have lost a family inheritance that was phenomenal," said Hattie Stein, a certified addiction counselor with Catholic Social Service in Dodge City. "There are people who go to casinos and designate how much money they can spend. The compulsive gambler -- the one that is at a high risk for addiction -- is unable to set limits. They wake up one morning and have thousands of dollars on their credit card."

Besides Stein’s office, Community Mental Health Services operates an office in Dodge City that provides addiction counseling, and New Chance of Dodge City also provides counseling. There are also various individuals in Ford County who offer private counseling.

Casinos often provide their own counseling services, as well. The Diocese of Las Vegas, in fact, has no personnel to deal with gambling addiction, and instead relies on the casinos to provide their own counseling. It’s not difficult to understand why, as the diocese would undoubtedly be overwhelmed in the gambling Mecca.

Jeff Thorpe of the Boot Hill Gaming Commission in Dodge City said that local casinos in small towns are able to pay more attention to the patterns of their clientele. The Dodge City casino will use a special "card system" to analyze individual’s gambling patterns, and intervene when they see someone has a problem.

Mary Vorsten, a certified addiction counselor for the Archdiocese of Kansas City, said that most casinos are very proactive when it comes to treating the addict. Just as in Las Vegas, the casinos in Kansas City include signs with hotlines for problem gamblers. Vorsten had just arrived at a conference for gambling addiction counselors when she spoke to the SKR by phone.

"We have myself, one other counselor in Kansas City, and one in Lawrence, Leavenworth, and Topeka," she said. "Gambling started here in 1994 when the gambling river boats came to Kansas City. The projection is that within three years of having a major casino, you begin to have problems in the community. Then it peaks and levels off in five years. I found that to be the case."

She said that many people treat gambling as simple entertainment and are able to set limits and stick to them. But for the problem gambler -- the gambler who cannot set limits -- the effects can be devastating.

"It’s amazing to me the rate of debt people will build up," she said. Prior to being certified, Vorsten said she was told that most people reach a debt of $40,000 before they seek help. "Most people I see are $80,000 to $100,000 in debt from gambling. When you max your credit card, you always get invitations from more credit card companies.

"An addictive gambler’s career goes pretty quick," she added. "They get into trouble much quicker than with other addictions."

Stein noted four levels of gambling addiction. 1) Winning: "Winning motivates you to gamble more," Stein said. 2) Losing: "You begin borrowing money to gamble, because you lost your surplus. You borrow from friends, from the bank. Until they just shut the money off, the gambler will continue to try to win back his losses." 3) Desperation: "That’s where the gambler crosses the line. This is when we get into theft, and other criminal activity, to get money to gamble." 4) Hopelessness: "And that’s a horrible place to be. At that time, there’s an increase in the amount of wagering and the time devoted to it, and also an increase in the depression, shame and guilt."

The final level is what leads an astounding 25 percent of gambling addicts to consider suicide, according to Vorsten.

Individuals who feel they may have a gambling addiction are urged to call Stein at (620) 227-1584, or the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-866-662-3800.