In a memo explaining the justification for the study, legislators stated that OASAS found that five percent of all adults in New York State have exhibited problem gambling behavior within the past year. What specifics those findings are based on was not clarified.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nIn another study, 140,000 middle and high school students showed signs of problem gambling in the past 12 months and another 10 percent of those students needed treatment for problem gambling. Again, no specifics have been offered on how this information was determined.<\/p>\n
The memo also cited research claiming residents living near casinos are more likely to suffer from problem gambling. As an example, a National Gambling Impact Study Commission report showed that casinos within a 50-mile radius of an individual’s home can double the prevalence of problem gambling.<\/p>\n
The University of Buffalo\u2019s Research Institute on Addictions, in its own study, claimed that having a casino within 10 miles can have a significant effect on an area resident\u2019s problem gambling issues.<\/p>\n
Currently, New York State has five tribal casinos and four commercial casinos, and more options are under consideration.<\/p>\n
Study Goals<\/h2>\n
The Rosenthal bill has already been approved by the Assembly\u2019s Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee, and currently is before the Ways and Means Committee.<\/p>\n
The bill calls for Gonzalez-Sanchez\u00a0to consult with the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) before she directs the study, which would be undertaken by an independent source after seeking request for proposals (RFPs).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe topics studied would include the lottery, horse racing, tribal casinos, internet gambling, sports betting, and poker. The study would identify the percentage of New York State residents participating in gambling by age, race, income, education, sex and any other relevant demographic breakdowns.<\/p>\n
It would also estimate the amount of money being wagered and lost by New York residents in each gambling activity — the method for determining these very specific figures, again, is unclear.<\/p>\n
The study would be completed by Dec. 1, 2023.<\/p>\n