GAMBLING ADDICTION & THE LAW

Goals for this presentation  Understand that gambling can become an addiction  Understand relationship of problem gambling to fraud/embezzlement/other legal issues  Become familiarize with resources to address problem gambling  Learn about gambling court models and resources

Gambling addicts, like other addicts, commit crime to support their addiction Former assistant manager, First American Title Insurance of Portland, embezzled $800,000 between , sentenced to 15 months federal prison.

Embezzler’s sentenced: 8 years West Linn- During sentencing for stealing $1.4 million, the city’s former finance chief talks of “terrible shame” City bond rating damaged

More Stories of Gambling Related Embezzlement  Aloha woman, stole more than $900,000 from her employer, US Bank, sentenced to 27 months.  Washington County woman, embezzled $275,000 from EasyStreet Online Services, sentenced to state prison.

Why is Gambling Related Crime a Growing Concern? Because as gambling proliferates, problem gambling also becomes a growing concern

Gambling in Oregon is Growing Oregon is among top 5 states in the US for gambling opportunities!  All nine tribes have casinos  Lottery retailers are everywhere; Lottery electronic machines are the most often reported game among those in treatment Spirit Mt. Casino has replaced Multnomah Falls as our #1 tourist attraction

Societal Acceptance = More Gamblers  Industry perpetuates a vision of gambling as entertaining, glamorous and as a means of achieving financial freedom.

More Gambling …. More Gamblers … More Problem Gamblers Prevalence of gambling disorders is a function of the overall level of gambling participation

The More Problem Gamblers, the More Gambling Related Crimes  Moore (2009). Slightly more than one third (31%) of those entering gambling treatment in Oregon reported committing an illegal act related to their gambling.  National Gambling Impact Study Commission (1999). A third of problem and pathological gamblers had been arrested, compared to 10% of low-risk gamblers and 4% of non-gamblers

Gambling in Lincoln County  Casino in the county and two more less than an hour away  Lottery retailers and $---- in sales in Lincoln County  Lottery video poker is the no. 1 game among those seeking pg treatment

Sandy 4 th grade teacher Pam Former Credit Union VP (incarcerated for embezzlement) Warren Cornell University Economics Degree But problem gamblers are not your “typical” criminals often high functioning and bright usually employed enter treatment later easier to hide: no obvious physical signs of addiction, nor physical limitations to the process (i.e. don’t OD from too much gambling ) Jane Grandma stole 250K to gamble Source: National Council on Problem Gambling voices of recovery

and gambling is not your typical addiction….or is it??? Not typical because not on the radar screen of most of us, not well understood, not routinely screened for, feds spend $0 on it Typical because it changes your brain in the same way cocaine use does, you experience highs and withdrawals, you can “black out”, you lose the ability to control the behavior, desperation occurs, devastates family

Problem gambling defined “All patterns of gambling behavior that compromise, disrupt, or damage personal, family or vocational pursuits.”  Synonymous with “compulsive”, “addicted”, “clinical”, “diagnosable” and “Level 3”  DSM diagnostic criteria is similar to Substance Abuse/Dependence

Continuum of gambling behavior No Gambling Experimentation Social At-RiskProblemPathological Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

Indicators of problem gambling Increase in gambling time and places Increase in size of bets Working up special occasions for gambling Intensity of interest in gambling Boasting wins; evading loses

More Indicators Gambling when there is a crisis Drop off in other activities/interests Frequent absences from school, work and home Withdrawal from family Personality changes(irritability/hostility) Use funds that should go to other purposes

Gambling and other addictions  Highly correlated with substance use and abuse and drug use  High relapse and crossover addiction potential if not addressed in treatment  Suicide rates higher than other addictions  DUII clients, drug court clients, incarcerated persons, youth detention facilities  3 question screen is valid

This is your brain on gambling Dr. Timothy Fong of UCLA compared the brain functions of compulsive gamblers and meth addicts. Both groups display similar impairments to the part of the brain where the orbital frontal cortex resides. “In other words”, says Fong, “for both compulsive gamblers and meth addicts, the brakes are gone.”

Gambling-related consequences among those in treatment (Oregon)

 Average gambling debt: $29,000  37 percent reported alcohol related problems  More than 30 percent reported committing illegal acts to obtain gambling money  More than 48 percent had suicidal thoughts and 9 percent reported a suicide attempt

Insert county pg treatment data here Available from scroll down to: 2011 Oregon Problem Gambling Services Data Book  Full version Full version

Resources

Insert county pg prevention data here Available from scroll down to: 2011 Oregon Problem Gambling Services Data Book  Full version Full version

…that’s more than1 per classroom, yet it’s not adequately addressed in schools, at home or in the community 1 in 25 problem gambler In Oregon, already 1 in 25 youth is a problem gambler Problem gambling is important to infuse into prevention efforts

Oregon youth who gamble are at much higher risk for other problems...it is not harmless recreation, as most believe

Treatment in Oregon: it’s free, confidential and it works Continuum of Care Helpline : 24/7 phone, , chat, instant message staffed by certified pg counselors mylimit or 1877mylimit.org outpatient treatment centers staffed by specially trained counselors residential treatment program

Problem Gambling Treatment is Specialized Addiction treatment PLUS  Gambler’s fallacy/dream world/false beliefs  Financial intervention and accountability  Co-occurring disorders and suicide  Family involvement (treatment is also free for family with or without the gambler)

Recovery Support  Gamblers Anonymous: 12-step organization for problem gamblers  Gam-Anon: For family members  Current list of meetings: call mylimit or go to 1877mylimit.org

Legal/Judicial Interventions

Options: video and handouts

Conclusions  Problem gambling is a real addiction and growing concern  The legal system is a key partner for identifying problem gamblers, getting them treatment and holding them accountable  Effective, specialized resources are available yet underutilized