Thank you for the article "Casino gambling remains alive," May 2, regarding Gov. Andrew Cuomo's priority issue of stimulating our economy by putting casinos in economically depressed regions of New York.
Distinguished Professor of Economics Earl Grinols at Baylor University reports 52 percent of revenues at the average casino are from problem or pathological gamblers and that these types of gamblers are 4 percent of adults and about 7 percent of casino clients. Casinos get 52 percent of their revenues from 7 percent of their clients. Steering these clients into lasting recovery programs and halting their replacement would lower the high-profit margins of existing casinos.
Casinos do not wish to cooperate in helping the 7 percent of their casino clients who provide 52 percent of the casino's income. And seriously affected gamblers seldom benefit from government-sponsored programs until long after terrible damage has come to them and their families.
Our governor's attention should focus on helping our pathological gamblers recover from their addiction. Our governor's attention should not focus on opening more casinos to exploit our problem and pathological gamblers.
Peter G. Sokaris
Albany