Dec 7, 2007 10:29 pm US/Eastern
Negative Effects Of Slots Beginning To Manifest
WASHINGTON (KDKA) ―
For some it's not all Lucky 7's.
For about 3 percent of those who casually play the slots, the impulse will morph into a full-blown addiction. Just ask Jack, a recovering gambler.
"Machines are devils. It's the lights and the sound. And people get hypnotized, mesmerized and ... stay 'til they lose everything," he said.
And sometimes others lose out as well.
At Arnold Pontiac in Houston, Pa., Office Manager Joyce Piansente embezzled at least $439,000 from the dealership over the course of four years.
When she pleaded guilty last week, Piansente said most of that money went into slot machines in West Virginia.
Using his savings, Bob Arnold was able to save his business but now must worry about his retirement and not being able to fund his grandchildren's college educations.
Piansente now faces 18 to 36 months in prison and her house is up for sheriff sale.
"She certainly has destroyed her family. She's destroyed several of her friends - those friendships are gone and had a major impact on our family and what we can do for our children, grandchildren," Arnold said.
And now that slots are in Washington County, Jack, of Gamblers Anonymous in Pittsburgh, says more people are becoming addicted closer to home.
"They're either returning or brand new because the ... access is closer. They don't have to go to West Virginia anymore, they can go down to Washington," he said.
At The Meadows, they say they're prepared.
"It's anticipated that some people are going to have a problem controlling the amount that they play," Michael Keelon, an official with the casino, said.
Meadows employees have been trained to spot problem gamblers. They offer literature to patrons who show signs like playing for extended periods of time without taking bathroom breaks.
Problem gamblers can also put themselves on an exclusion list and voluntarily bar themselves from the casino.
"If they are caught on the gambling floor they are subject to arrest for trespassing," Keelon said.
The state also has toll-free hotlines and has committed $1.5 million a year for counseling. But in Arnold's case, he's angry the casinos never raised a red flag when Piansente gambled away his business proceeds.
"It's our understanding she would stay there all night gambling. They certainly should have alerted the family and the spouses and maybe in some cases children," Arnold said.
Some anti-gambling advocates say Pennsylvania gaming laws don't go far enough in protecting employers and families. They argue the casino should be required to send an account of all gambling activity to the homes of the patrons so a spouse or a family member can tell if someone is losing a lot of money.
A bill that would require third-party notification can't seem to make it out of committee in Harrisburg.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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