Ontario Mayor Proclaims Problem Gambling Awareness Month

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ONTARIO–Last week Mayor Randy Hutchinson proclaimed the month of March as “Problem Gambling Awareness Month” for the citizens of Ontario.  Be that as it may, two million adults in the United States meet the diagnostic criteria for gambling disorder in a given year.

According to the proclamation, problem gambling signs include gambling that: disrupts sleep and diet, is a coping method for anxiety, changes personality, and/or brings self-destructive thoughts. 

The proclamation cites a National Council on Problem Gambling report stating social costs of problem gambling are $7 billion per year in the United States from criminal incarcerations, bankruptcies and addictions.

The Reverend Les Farley of My Father’s House has seen first-hand the effects problem gambling.

“In my secular vocation, I had an employee spend her entire check on bingo every week.  At one point, she was living without electricity and heat since she could not pay her bills.  She was also spending her husbands’ paycheck on her addiction before they ended up foreclosing on their home.”

“The Bible declares in 1Timothy 6:10 that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.  When people love money, all their priorities are turned upside down.  Their addiction leads to behavior they normally would not act on.”

Speaking of behavior, the latest Ohio Casino Control Commission publication reported the four state casino locations recorded at least 750 arrests over the twelve month period onsite; the prior year was 817 arrests.  Strangely enough, crime incidents in surrounding neighborhoods were not included in the state report.     

Consequently, the proclamation also pointed out that the percentage of Ohioans deemed “problem gamblers” has doubled since the implementation of racinos and casinos five years ago.  Furthermore, the prevalence of problem and pathological gamblers roughly doubles within fifty miles of a casino.

According to Reverend Russell Stanford of All Believers in Christ Church, “In my opinion, making something legal such as alcohol, cigarettes, or gambling does not negate our responsibility to make the public aware of the harmful side effects of this addiction, but rather it should enhance our responsibility.”

Ultimately, problem and pathological gamblers are between 3 and 4 times more likely to be arrested and between 2 and 7 times more likely to use illegal drugs, binge drink, and smoke.

“I do not gamble,” says Reverend Stanford whose congregation meets at 1650 South Main Street in Mansfield.

“My mom taught us as kids to stay away from gambling.  Not everything that glitters is gold. The Bible is clear that it does not bode well for those who gain riches speedily.  No one serves two masters-you cannot serve both GOD and money.”

Both clergy agree that problem gambling addiction in households can have a domino effect:  families losing can cause businesses to lose when families are unable to afford going out to restaurants and buying new clothes.  Paying bills for property taxes, public utilities and levies for government entities can go unpaid.

All things considered, a 2016 study by the National Endowment of Financial Education, revealed a staggering seventy-percent of lottery winners end up going bankrupt within several years!  

The Reverend Farley, whose congregation meets at 1780 West Fourth Street in Ontario, believes that the local government should keep in mind that the gambling industry does not create wealth; it only causes wealth change hands. 

“We have to remember that the focus of the gambling industry is to expand its take by acquiring other people’s money.  Las Vegas was built by people who lost, not by people who won.”

Reverend Les Farley, My Father’s House

“Some policy makers can’t make heads or tails about the local effects of gambling.  As a stakeholder in my community, I support economic interests that bring out the best in people, not the worst. We have to remember that the focus of the gambling industry is to expand its take by acquiring other people’s money.  Las Vegas was built by people who lost, not by people who won.” 

“I hate to upset the applecart,” says Reverend Stanford tongue in cheek.  “I think it is significant that despite its gambling industry that was legalized in 1978, Atlantic City still has trouble sustaining even a single grocery store.” 

Historically speaking, in a 2009 survey on gambling attitudes conducted of eighty-three leading pastors throughout Richland County, one hundred percent of the pastors stated their opposition to gambling would not change if casinos were legalized.  Eighty-three percent stated they had an unfavorable view of bingo and legal forms of gaming done by churches as means of charity.

Clergy were “all in” on October 16, 2008 when leading pastors from eighty-two congregations throughout Richland County held a press conference at the Mansfield City Hall Courtyard speaking against the implementation of state casinos.

Currently gambling has expanded, but when a jackpot is hit today, like a thief in the night, the tables are quickly turned for winners and fortunes more times than not vanish into thin air.  And sadly, families find the cards stacked against them grappling with problem gambling addiction.   

The Bottom Line:

The Bible says in First Timothy Six, “The love of money is the root of all evil.”

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