GAMBLING ADDICTION & THE
LAW
Goals for this presentation

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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 2001-05, 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
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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
Spirit Mt. Casino has replaced
Multnomah Falls as our #1 tourist
attraction

Lottery retailers are everywhere; Lottery
electronic machines are the most often
reported game among those in treatment
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

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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
But problem
gamblers are not your
“typical” criminals
Sandy
4th grade teacher
Warren
Cornell University
Economics Degree
• 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 )
Pam
Former Credit Union VP
(incarcerated for
embezzlement)
Jane
Grandma
stole 250K to gamble
Source: National Council on Problem Gambling voices of recovery http://www.ncpgambling.org/
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
Experimentation
Gambling
Level 1
Social
At-Risk
Problem
Pathological
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

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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)
50
45
Percent
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Relationship
Problems
Problems at Work Lost Time From
Work
Bankruptcy
Legal Problems
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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
http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/addiction/gambling.shtml#r-d
scroll down to:
2011 Oregon Problem Gambling Services Data Book
Full version
Resources
Insert county pg prevention data here
Available from
http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/addiction/gambling.shtml#r-d
scroll down to:
2011 Oregon Problem Gambling Services Data Book
Full version
Problem gambling is important to
infuse into prevention efforts
In Oregon,
already 1 in 25
youth is a
problem gambler
…that’s more than1 per classroom, yet
it’s not adequately addressed in schools,
at home or in the community
Oregon youth who gamble are at much higher risk for other
problems...it is not harmless recreation, as most believe
Used alcohol in the past month
100%
Percentage
80%
60%
Did not gamble
40%
20%
0%
Grade 6
Grade 8
Grade 11
Gambled
Treatment in Oregon: it’s free,
confidential and it works
Continuum of Care
Helpline : 24/7 phone, email, chat, instant
message staffed by certified pg counselors
1-877-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
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Gamblers Anonymous: 12-step
organization for problem gamblers
Gam-Anon: For family members
Current list of meetings:
call 1-877-mylimit or go to
1877mylimit.org

Legal/Judicial Interventions
Options: video and handouts
www.gamblingcourt.org
http://www.gamblingcourt.org/videoFarrell.php
Conclusions
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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