Senate Bill S6932

                                BILL NUMBER:S6932

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to
commissioning a statewide evaluation regarding the extent of legal and
illegal gambling by New York residents

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:  The purpose of this bill is to
mitigate the social costs related to problem gambling by conducting a
social impact study on problem gambling.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:  Amends 19.09 of mental hygiene law by
requiring the commissioner of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance
Abuse Services in consultation with the New York State Gaming
Commission to conduct a statewide evaluation regarding the extent of
legal and illegal gambling by New York State residents.

JUSTIFICATION:  A survey conducted by the New York State Office of
Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) found that five
percent of adults, or 668,000 individuals, exhibited problem gambling
behaviors within the past year. Another survey of seventh through
twelfth grade students revealed that ten percent, or 140,000 students,
showed signs of problem gambling in the past 12 months and another ten
percent of those students were in need of treatment for problem
gambling. Of those students in the survey who were identified as in
need of chemical dependency treatment, forty five percent were at risk
or in need of treatment for problem gambling.
              

Research has found that proximity to casinos increases the rate of
problem gambling among the local population. The National Gambling
Impact Study Commission showed that casinos within a 50 mile radius of
an individual's home can double the prevalence of problem gambling.
The Buffalo Research Institute on Addiction, in its own study, claimed
that having a casino within 10 miles of a home has a significant
effect on problem gambling. Currently, New York State has five casinos
operated by Native Americans and nine independently operated racinos;
combined they operate approximately 29,000 electronic gambling
machines, which is more than any state in the Northeast or Midwest.
New York continues to expand its existing gaming market and if
non-tribal casino gaming is legalized, permitting up to seven new
casinos to be established, the risk of more individuals developing a
gambling problem could increase significantly.

While it is important that New York State continue to conduct surveys
that determine the prevalence of problem gambling and illustrate the
need for prevention and treatment services, additional research that
measures the social impact of problem gambling is sorely needed.
Directing such research would allow the State to pinpoint which social
costs associated with problem gambling are most predominant among New
York's identified problem gamblers and have also been detected in
communities impacted by the presence of a casino. By having this
information, New York State and its public officials will be able-to
develop a comprehensive plan comprised of precise policies and
regulations that aim to mitigate the social costs related to problem
gambling. Another benefit from obtaining this data is that it will
enable the problem gambling service providers and the casino industry
to implement strategies and interventions that target the specific
problem gambling needs of each local community and its citizens.


This bill would help to reduce the social costs associated with
problem gambling by requiring OASAS to conduct a problem gambling
social impact study.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: This is a new bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Undetermined

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect immediately.