HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1092.001 2014-2016 UC� f i sib H P 1_
opposition to Resolution 671-16 for high-stakes bingo
for Hawai'i County Council, 9 AM Wednesday, November 2,ZQ }lo a ar e9
from Cory Harden, Hilo 959-7747 DRur
When high-stakes bingo was proposed here in 2013, Councilmember Brenda Ford said, " ' For every$1
in revenues, you spend $3 on social issues caused by the gambling' ". (1)
A study in the Journal of Gambling Studies found that"...gamblers appeared to 'export' about half of the
harms they experienced to those around them." (2)
A Canadian report found problem gambling "has a profound impact on gamblers'friends and families...
contractors not being paid for work done, students showing up to school in distress and neighbours
witnessing violence and crime..." (3)
The report also found "...a significantly higher proportion of problem gamblers reported having thoughts
of committing suicide in their lifetime compared to non-problem gamblers...coroner reports do not always
capture suicides as gambling-related, but the suicide data in areas with a longer history of gambling are
illustrative: Las Vegas has had one of North America's highest per capita suicide rates for the past 50
years...A study of gambling in Alberta estimated that 10% of all suicides in Alberta are gambling-related."
(4)
A survey in the Journal of Gambling Studies found "Respondents who reported that it was most
convenient for them to gamble had the highest average problem gambling symptoms, compared to those
for whom gambling was less convenient." (5)
A study in the Hawai'i Journal of Medicine and Public Health found "...the only potential support for
problem gamblers in Hawaii is GA[Gamblers Anonymous] and there are only a few groups on two of the
islands...",and none in East Hawai'i. (6)
Several Hawai'i legislators oppose legalized gambling, including U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard,
State Senator Laura Thielen, and State Representative Nicole Lowen. (7)
In 2010 Hawai'i County Council passed Resolution 309-10 urging state legislators to oppose any
proposed legislation legalizing gambling in the state. In 2009 the Hawai'i State Association of Counties
took a position against legalized gambling in the state, and the City and County of Honolulu voted against
legalized gambling.
Please oppose high-stakes bingo.
(1)Is bingo a good bet for county?Hawaii Tribune-Herald, 4-9-13, http://hawaiitribune-
herald.com/sections/news/local-nevus/bingo-good-bet-county,htm
(2)Breaking Bad: Comparing Gambling Harms Among Gamblers and Affected Others, En Li,
Matthew Browne, Vijay Rawat, Erika Langham, Matthew Rockloff, Journal of Gambling Studies, 21 July
2016,http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10899-016-9632-8
(3)The Health Impacts of Gambling Expansion in Toronto, report to Toronto Board of Health by Medical
Officer of Health, 11-7-12, pp. 1 and 6, hitp://wvwv.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-
51871.pdf
(4)Ibid. p. 11, http://wwwtoronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-51871.pdf
Comm. No. )%
Ref. To: V\(Dv
Ref. Dote NOV 0 2 2016
(5)Predictors of Problem Gambling'in the U.S., John W. Waite, Grace M. Barnes, Marie-Cecile 0. Tidwell,
William F.'. eczotk, Journal,of Gambling Studies, 24 August 2016,
http:/llink.springer.corrilarticle%10.'1007/s 10899-016-9639-1
(6)Piliwaiwai:Problem Gambling in Hawaii, Robin-Marie Shepherd, Hawaii Journal of Medicine and
Public Health, March 2016, httpsJ/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.aov/pmclarticles/PMC4795333/
(7)Havvai'i Coalition Against Legalized Gambling website,
http:l/hcalq.orglle_gisiature/#F2016leaislatorsposition