Not so lucky: AP story about casinos' Asian American outreach omits data on addiction
07.31.06 - Posted by AsiansVote
An AP story about casinos catering to Asian American gamblers shamefully gives an industry rep the last word about the dangers and prevalence of gambling addiction:
Steve Karoul, who until earlier this month was vice president of casino marketing at Foxwoods who has spent 30 years in the casino business and worked in several Asian countries, said Asians aren't significantly affected by compulsive gambling.
"Honestly, we find it's not as prevalent in the Asian community as it is in the non-Asian community," Karoul said. "Of all the markets, I would say it's the least affected by problem gaming. Gaming is part of the culture, but problem gaming is not widespread."
An actual study provides very different conclusions. From
AsianWeek:
A 1997 survey done by NICOS found that 70 percent of 1,800 Chinese Americans surveyed in San Francisco believed that gambling was a serious problem in their community. Another informal study conducted by two U.C. Berkeley students the same year, which surveyed over 150 people in Portsmouth Square, found that 30 percent of them said they gambled once a week or more, 14.7 percent identified themselves as problem gamblers, and 21 percent of survey respondents met the criteria for pathologic gambling.
“Two to 6 percent of the mainstream population are problem gamblers, but in the Chinese community it is some 20 percent,” said Dr. Eddie Chiu of the Richmond Area Multi Service Center. “These people leave early from work to gamble; they don’t go to school to gamble; they can’t stop.”
Shame on the AP.
If you think you or a loved one has a gambling problem, visit the NICOS Chinese Health Association website to take a online quiz in English or Chinese. Cantonese and Mandarin speakers can use the NICOS hotline to get help -- (888) 968-7888.
Minnesota Institute of Public Health has a list of various gambling addiction programs. And there's always Gamblers Anonymous.
07.31.06 |
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