[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 87 (Friday, June 18, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1327]]



         TIME FOR A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON THE GROWTH OF GAMBLING

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM ROEMER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 18, 1999

  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, after two years of research and public 
hearings, the National Gambling Impact Study Commission has just 
completed its report and findings on the growth of gambling in America.
  It is an eye-opening report which I hope every Federal, State, local 
and tribal government which sponsors gambling activities will take the 
time to read and consider.
  At the same time, I hope this report will serve as the starting point 
for a national dialogue on gambling, so we can begin to make some 
informed decisions about gambling and its impact on people.
  The NGISC made a number of major recommendations in its report. 
Perhaps most important of all, the commissioners unanimously 
recommended a ``pause,'' or moratorium, on the growth of new gambling 
activities, to give governments further time to research and assess the 
impact of gambling on society.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an extraordinary recommendation. It reflects the 
genuine concern among the Commission members--many of whom work in the 
gambling industry itself--about the dangerous and unpredictable 
consequences of the explosive growth of gambling we have experienced in 
recent years.
  Here are some of the Commission's other major findings:
  (1) The Commission determined that unregulated growth of the gambling 
industry is seen as a ``dangerous course of action'';
  (2) They determined that the more Americans are presented with 
opportunities to gamble, the more concern there is about problem and 
pathological gambling, and that the social, legal and financial 
consequences of gambling addiction are severe;
  (3) They determined that technology is revolutionizing the gambling 
industry, and that the internet in particular poses serious legal, 
economic and social concerns which the nation is not prepared to deal 
with; and
  (4) They concluded that many policy makers have been forced to make 
decisions about expanding gambling with virtually no credible studies 
to rely on and, at best, only an assessment of the perceived social 
impacts.
  Mr. Speaker, it is not hard to find anecdotal evidence about the 
risks associated with gambling. In Indiana, a recent report by the 
Governor's Study Commission on Gambling showed that average losses 
among gamblers have increased by 20% in the three years since riverboat 
gambling was first introduced. Gambling losses now make up nearly one 
percent of what Indiana residents spend each year.
  If National averages hold true, a disproportionate amount of these 
losses are coming from low-income households, the elderly and young 
people--those Americans most vulnerable. Clearly, we need to be 
concerned about this growing problem.
  Just this week, the Gallup Poll surveyed Americans' views about 
gambling. Among the major findings, 56% of adults believe that casinos 
have a negative impact on family and community life in the cities in 
which they operate. Another two-thirds of both the adults and teens 
surveyed believe that betting on sports events leads to cheating or 
fixing of games, while 57% of adults oppose legalized betting on sports 
events as a way to raise state revenue.
  Overall, 76% of Americans surveyed expressed the view that gambling 
should either stay at current levels or be reduced or banned. Clearly, 
the vast majority of Americans support the Commission's call for a 
moratorium on new gambling activities.
  The NGISC has made a number of positive recommendations in its 
report, including:
  (1) That Congress authorize a general research strategy to build a 
knowledge of gambling behavior, including research on the social and 
economic impacts of gambling, and the impacts on crime and property 
values;
  (2) That Governors and State legislatures fund objective studies on 
the prevalence of problem and pathological gamblers, and undertake 
research, education and treatment programs for problem gamblers;
  (3) That enforceable advertising guidelines be adopted for the 
gambling industry, particularly as they relate to youths and low-income 
neighborhoods; and
  (4) That a strategy be developed to prohibit internet gambling within 
the United States;
  These are just a few of the major recommendations which the 
commission made.
  In response to this report, Congressmen Frank Wolf, John LaFalce and 
I have just introduced a resolution which encourages Federal, State, 
local and tribal governments to review the findings of the National 
Gambling Impact Study Commission, and to consider the implementation of 
its recommendations.
  The NGISC has delivered a powerful warning about the dangers of the 
unregulated growth of gambling. It is time now to build on this report, 
and develop a strategy to respond to the many concerns brought about by 
the rapid acceleration of gambling in our society.

                          ____________________