Problem Gamblers Find a Way Around the Rules

Gambling News - July 27th, 2009 - Written by Glen

Missouri once had a high concentration of admitted problem gamblers, but measures had been taken to prevent them from giving into their urges. Gamblers could impose a ban upon themselves through the casinos, facilitating an arrest for trespassing should they be found on the casino's property. This had caused a reduction in the number of problem gamblers throwing away their money, but a loophole has been found and now gamblers are once again finding their way into gambling sites.

It used to be that all gamblers would have to provide a form of ID prior to entering the casino, but this is no longer the case. Additionally, a loss limit that had once been in place to control how much a gambler could lose was also thrown out the window. Problem gamblers are finding themselves capable of sneaking into the casinos now, with the goal to get their fix.

Prior to the change of the laws, all players would be required to use a players card. These cards would monitor how much a player spends, wins, and allocated comp points. Problem gamblers would find that when they used these cards after they banned themselves, they would be found and removed. A system to promote catching said gambling addicts had also been concocted, adding a cash reward for any member of the security teams that would catch and eject a player who had banned him or herself.

Many casinos are still checking all ID's at the door, as part of their security. Prevention is the key, but is not always viable. Gamblers with addiction are still managing to get in, as the numbers have allegedly risen since the required player's cards were dropped.

Still, problem gamblers meet resistance over several fronts. First, if any player wins over $1,200 dollars, they are required to put in a tax form. Thus, if any problem gambler does actually strike it large, they will be unable to recover their winnings and may end up in jail for their reward. According to the figures, over 450 compulsive gamblers have been arrested in the first half of this year, and that number is a slight decline from last year's first half figure.

The concentration of problem gamblers is most heavy in the locations with casinos that are readily available, but officials hope the problem will begin to subside as more gamblers find that the risks outweigh the reward. Psychologists argue, however, that it is not about the winning as much as it is the gaming.