Problem Gambling Cases Decrease in South Africa

South Africa has been getting a lot of negative attention about the consequences of expanding gambling in the country. A new study helps curb those concerns as it was reveled today that only 4.8% of gambling adults in the country could be considered problem gamblers.

More than three thousand adults were surveyed by the group. The adults were from the country's principle urban areas and had easy access to commercial gambling.

With casinos going up nearly everywhere in the world, and at record paces, the key to keeping people from becoming problem gamblers, the study concludes, seems to lie in education and treatment.

In the American states of Montana and North Dakota problem gambling increased, while in New Zealand and Oregon, problem gambling decreased. All places have seen new casino developments and the variable that kept gambling problems down was that there were extensive education outlets and treatment centers to let people know about the risks of gambling in New Zealand and Oregon.

For opponents of the ever growing gambling industry, the focus should be on helping to get these states that are expanding their casino base the proper resources to raise awareness of problem gambling.

Gambling globally is not going away, in fact, on the contrary, it is expanding. There will be no stopping gambling expansion, so all involved in the fight against gambling should turn their attention to the real issue, keeping gambling as a form of entertainment, much like casual drinking, and for those who are unable to control themselves, educate and reform.

"You cannot take away the freedoms of the people, therefore you must protect the vulnerable," said Sid Johnson, a South African gambling analyst.

The facts in the studies are there for the taking, it is up to individual states and countries to take the necessary steps to educate people about the dangers of compulsive gambling, and to have treatment centers willing to assist in the effort. By doing this, the threat of problem gamblers decrease, revenue for governments increase, and hard working people get to enjoy the entertainment of casual gambling.

August 27, 2007
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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