|
COMMISSIONER LANNI: I have a question. I thought your
oral testimony was quite meaningful, and I support most of what you said.
You did not refer much in the oral testimony, or if I listened correctly
at all to illegal gambling. Yet, in your written testimony you have reference
to illegal gambling.
With the studies and the treatment that you've been involved in, to what
degree have you been -- do you find people who have the problems that
they have and that you've dealt with are products of illegal gaming as
compared to legal gaming?
DOCTOR LORENZ: Probably 20, 25 percent might be illegal gambling,
and typically those are sports bettors, and they tend to be some of our
younger addicts. Most of our residential patients, the most acutely disturbed
tend to be casino gamblers first, at a lesser level the race track gamblers,
with a long history of gambling. But, really, we see all types of gambling,
whether it's lottery addicts, Keno addicts, Bingo addicts, the devastation
is the same and the contributing factors are the same.
COMMISSIONER LANNI: A couple of follow-ups, if I may. I think
we've established the fact that we probably haven't met. Do you know a
number of people in the gaming industry?
DOCTOR LORENZ: Yes, I do.
COMMISSIONER LANNI: You do, executives.
DOCTOR LORENZ: I know some.
COMMISSIONER LANNI: You obviously have a very low opinion
of them, in looking at your second to last paragraph in your written response,
you indicate that we are totally lacking in personal responsibility and
integrity. I'm offended by that, we've never met, but if you choose to
believe that some 700,000 people in this country are lacking in integrity
and responsibility you have not done a very good study.
DOCTOR LORENZ: I am talking about the response to pathological
gambling, which has been virtually nil. Over the many years, the 20-25
years that we have spoken with casino personnel, with lottery personnel,
as well as personnel from other gambling venues.
COMMISSIONER LANNI: You also refer to the fact that we are
totally lacking in social consciousness and the gaming industries are
enemies, the industry is an enemy, not an ally.
DOCTOR LORENZ: That's right, I totally believe that, and that's
--
COMMISSIONER LANNI: You also --
DOCTOR LORENZ: -- based on 25 years of experience. The help
that has been given to pathological gamblers, either for employees of
the industry or for non-employees, is minimal. Again, we have had any
number of employees, either from casinos or state lotteries, who do not
have health insurance, who do not get the support from the industry for
the treatment that they need.
COMMISSIONER LANNI: You also indicated here that a preponderance
of the casino personnel represent this Commission, can you tell me how
five of the people on this Commission represent the casino industry?
DOCTOR LORENZ: I see no representative here from the pathological
gambling industry. I see three of them directly connected, directly or
indirectly connected, which would be you, and Mr. Bible and Mr. Wilhelm.
COMMISSIONER LANNI: Yes. You indicated, I think also, that
people who have pathological problems are very good with numbers. I don't
think you are very good with numbers, I can tell you that, pathological
or not, and there's no reference to that. Maybe your oral word is more
logical than your written word.
And, I'm very offended by your second to last paragraph. It's not substantiated.
DOCTOR LORENZ: Quite frankly, I'm quite good with numbers.
As a matter of fact, I majored in banking before I got into the mental
health field.
COMMISSIONER LANNI: I hope the bank did a little bit more successfully
in its operation than you did in your written word.
DOCTOR LORENZ: They did very well, thank you.
COMMISSIONER LANNI: Good, I'm glad they did, but I'm offended
by that, it lacks credibility, and it really -- it's a sad thing, because
you made a wonderful oral presentation. Most of your letter was quite
reasonable, and, as I said, I agree with most of it, but when you come
to the second to last paragraph and attack an entire industry, you lose
credibility with me.
DOCTOR LORENZ: Mr. Lanni, we have spoken with state lottery
directors, casino personnel, other gambling venues for many years. How
much money is allocated for pathological gambling, for treatment, for
prevention, for research? I think that answers your question.
COMMISSIONER LANNI: Doctor, I shan't get into an issue of
discussing things with you, but that is a definite non-sequitur.
|