45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN COOPERATION WITH THE GAMING CONTROL BOARD TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE COST AND IMPACT OF PROBLEM GAMBLING AND GAMBLING ADDICTION ON THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND ITS CITIZENS.

WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico approved a state-run lottery in 1996 and casino and slot machine gambling in 1997; and

WHEREAS, in approving gambling, the state required that a portion of the gaming revenues received from tribal casino and racetrack gambling be spent on prevention and treatment of problem gambling and gambling addiction; and

WHEREAS, the department of health and the university of New Mexico completed a study of gambling-related problems in 1996; and

WHEREAS, based on a questionnaire, the study determined that there were over forty thousand "serious problem gamblers" in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the findings of the study did not result in any new funding for the treatment of problem gambling and gambling addiction; and

WHEREAS, there has been no recent effort to study the impact of problem gambling and gambling addiction in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the gaming control board and numerous other organizations with an interest in problem gambling have formed an alliance to serve as a focal point for the evaluation

of resources directed to the prevention and treatment of problem gambling; and

WHEREAS, Indian tribes operating gaming facilities in accordance with contracts signed with the state of New Mexico have agreed to expend certain sums on gaming education and prevention; and

WHEREAS, a statewide alliance of New Mexico gaming tribes has been formed to work with the state and other entities on gaming-related issues; and

WHEREAS, though the department of health is not a member of this alliance, it does play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of other addictions;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health, in cooperation with the gaming control board and statewide associations of Indian gaming interests, be requested to conduct a study on the cost and impact of problem gambling and gambling addiction on the state of New Mexico and its citizens; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this study identify resources that may be applied to prevention and treatment of problem gambling and make legislative recommendations for

additional resources, if necessary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this group report its findings and recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee at its October 2002 meeting; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be sent to the department of health, the gaming control board and the legislative health and human services committee.