WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MARCH 11, 2021 5
Sen. Addabbo highlights anti-addiction
measures in sports betting legislation
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
As New York inches closer to legalizing
mobile sports betting
as a means to close its massive
$14 billion budget defi cit, state Senator
Joseph Addabbo is highlighting the
importance of identifying and helping
those who may suff er from problem
gambling.
March is recognized as National
Problem Gambling Awareness
Month and Addabbo continues to
work toward sports betting while
recognizing that issues with problem
gambling do not just affect those
individuals placing bets — gambling
could potentially affect their financial
situation, which could cause
problems at home; it can affect job
status or cause them to be fired; or it
can lead to a higher risk of domestic
violence as well as suicide.
“Problem Gambling Awareness
Month serves as a reminder that
gambling addiction is real and
requires effective resources to educate,
support and treat individuals,”
said Addabbo, who is the chair of
the Senate Racing, Gambling and
Wagering Committee. “As I continue
to work on gambling issues for our
state, I will make sure that problemgambling
programs are improved,
in order to assist those who already
have problem gambling issues, help
identify the signs of problem gaming,
and always to prevent problem gambling
from getting out of control.”
New Yorkers are currently placing
wagers on sports either in person at
upstate casinos or illegally through
their bookies, online through illegal
offshore websites, or by taking a
quick trip to New Jersey and doing it
with a mobile device. These markets,
especially the illegal market, have
no safeguards in place to help New
Yorkers, who may be experiencing
problem gambling addiction.
Addabo’s bill to legalize mobile
betting in the state, known as S.1183,
has measures built into the language
that will help identify and provide
assistance for both instances of
where an individual has a gambling
addiction and to address pre-addiction
awareness.
“Problem Gambling Awareness
Month is a time to focus on this
important issue and to remember
that each time we face an increase
in gambling opportunities we need
expanded services statewide” New
York Council on Problem Gambling
Executive Director Jim Maney said.
“We cannot just focus on education
but must also focus on developing
policies and environmental efforts
that minimize youth exposure to
advertising and gambling access.
We need treatment service funds
adequate enough to ensure that no
family who has already been financially
devastated by this disorder
has to pay for services.”
State Senator Joseph Addabbo showcased anti-addiction measures in his
bill to legalize sports betting. Photo via Flicker
SUMMER
SESSION
Catch up or get ahead.
Unmatched tuition cost.
May to August | Online
1000+ courses | 25 Colleges
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
