Statistics

"In gambling, the many must lose in order that the few may win.” George Benard Shaw

Oklahoma has over 80 Tribal Casinos, three racetrack casinos and the lottery. Oklahoma

The entire country of Australia only has ~13 casinos. Canada has ~ 60, England has ~60, France ~50, Germany ~50, Central America ~63. Africa with over 40 countries has only ~117 casinos. The Far East has ~ 47 casinos. http://www.worldcasinodirectory.com (numbers may vary due to opening of new casinos and some countries have small “gaming club” type operations, gambling machines in bars, etc.)

Current estimates state that approximately 1-3% of the population meet the DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling. By this estimate, there are between 35,000 and 105,000 people who currently could be currently diagnosed as pathological gamblers in Oklahoma. Some estimates are as high as 10% of the population that could be diagnosed with compulsive or problem gambling.

As of September 2005, nearly 9,000 people have added themselves to the self-ban list from the 12 casinos in Missouri. The number of people adding themselves to this self-ban list provided by the Missouri Gambling Commission is growing by approximately 1200 per year. Missouri has only 12 casinos Oklahoma has over 80 casinos with more planned.

The National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report selected statistics:

· Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions estimated in 1997 there were 7.5 million American adult problem and pathological gamblers (5.3 million problem and 2.2 million pathological).

· The same study also estimated there were 7.9 million American adolescent problem and pathological gamblers (5.7 million problem and 2.2 million pathological)

· The National Opinion Research Center 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.

· Studies found that pathological, problem, and at-risk gambling was proportionally higher among African Americans than other ethnic groups.

· Dr. Robert Hunter, a specialist in pathological gambling treatment, has estimated that 15 percent of gambling industry employees have a gambling problem.

· Adolescent gamblers are more likely than adults to develop problem and pathological gambling.

· NORC calculated that problem gamblers account for about 15 percent of total U.S. gambling revenues or about $7.6 billion per year.

· In a survey of nearly 400 Gamblers Anonymous members, 57 percent admitted stealing to finance their gambling. Collectively they stole $30 million, for an average of $135,000 per individual.

OTHER STATISTICS

· One estimate states that the global Internet gaming market will grow from $10 billion in 2002 to $14.5 billion in 2006.

· According to research firm River City Group, Internet poker alone is a $2 billion-a-year industry with a million players monthly. ComScore Media Metrix -- which measures all U.S. Internet users at home, work and college locations -- reports more than 29.1 million unique visitors.

· The American Gaming Association, a gambling industry organization, estimates that approximately 18% or 54.1 million Americans made 319 million visits to casinos in 2004

· According to the American Gaming Association legalized gambling is responsible for more than 1 million jobs in the United States; 350,000 direct casino jobs and the rest in casino related employment. These jobs generate more than $12 billion dollars in wages for employees annually and do not include jobs generated by Tribal gaming.

· Legalized gambling generates from $60 billion to $190 billion dollars per year for the gaming industry depending on the method used to calculate revenues.

· There are 445 casinos in the twenty-eight states that allow commercial casinos. In the eleven states that have Tribal Gaming establishments, nearly 200 Tribes (who knew there were that many tribes?) operate close to 350 casinos. Seven states have 23 racetrack casinos and 5 states allow card rooms.

· A survey of Gamblers Anonymous members in the United States found that 48 percent had considered suicide and 13 percent had attempted it.

· Each year, the armed forces take in more than $120 million from on-base slot machines and $7 million from Army bingo games at home. These funds help pay for recreational programs for the troops.

Interesting Gambling Information

In a study funded by the National Institute of Justice, the results indicated that casino gambling is associated with an increase in personal bankruptcy in 7 of 8 communities studied. The eighth community, Biloxi, MS, was the only "destination resort" community of the eight communities studied and showed a decrease in the number of bankruptcies filed. The results suggest that there is a direct and positive relationship between the length of time casinos have been in the community and bankruptcy rate. Those communities that have had casinos longest tended to have the highest increase in the number of bankruptcies filed.

The Principality of Monaco is an independent principality of 150 hectares adjoining France, with a population of 31,500 inhabitants. Since 1863 it has been the home of the famous Monte Carlo Casino, which is a major revenue source for the principality, as well as related tourism, banking, insurance, and other service and light manufacturing industries. It has no income tax (except for certain categories of French nationals) and no capital gains tax. An interesting aspect of governance is that citizens of Monaco are not permitted to gamble at the Monegasque facilities

Copyright 2007

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