Looking Beyond the Odds
There are few activities that have seen more growth and change in Minnesota in the past five years than gambling. In just a few years, gambling has become part of our daily lives. The number of adults in Minnesota gambling monthly almost doubled from 1990 to 1994. Total spending on all forms of legal gambling also doubled from 1990 to an estimated $4 billion in 1995. Another $1 billion is wagered illegally each year.
More than 2 million adults in Minnesota gamble annually. For most of these people, gambling is a social or recreational activity that does not cause problems. But for others gambling creates serious personal, family, employment or legal problems. During the past five years, the number of people experiencing problems related to gambling has doubled.
Gambling problems often occur along with other personal and family problems. As a result, it is important that professionals in Minnesota who work with people in a variety of mental health and social service settings be aware of the potential for gambling to be associated with problems their clients may be experiencing. It is an additional question to ask clients in relationship to a variety of behaviors and problems.
This quarterly newsletter has been designed to provide information about available resources and current trends in prevention and treatment. It is our hope to go beyond simply providing information about the odds of winning or losing or the odds of experiencing a gambling problem. We hope that Beyond the Odds will enhance the quality and availability of a continuum of services for people troubled by gambling problems; offer a forum to connect people and ideas in a manner that will result in creative, compassionate and effective solutions to the emerging problems related to gambling; and provide information about strategies to help all Minnesotans, both adults and youth, make informed choices about whether, when and how much to gamble.
We hope you find this first edition of Beyond the Odds informative and helpful. Your comments, reflections and input for future editions are welcomed. We intend to make this a timely, relevant and helpful newsletter.
-Roger Svendsen
In This Issue
Gender of Hotline Callers Seeking Help 1992 vs. 1995
