Problem Gambling Awareness Week: Shining the Light on Problem Gambling's Impact on Crime

Problem Gambling Awareness Week: Shining the Light on Problem Gambling's Impact on Crime

Governor Charlie Crist has proclaimed the week of March 1st through 7th as Problem Gambling Awareness Week in the State of Florida, to coincide with the nationally declared awareness week. The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) is joining forces with the Governor, numerous mayors and organizations across the state, to raise public awareness about the effects of pathological (commonly referred to as compulsive) gambling, and spread the message of hope that gambling addiction is treatable for those who seek help. The theme for this year's PGAW is Shining the Light on Problem Gambling with a focus on the impact compulsive gambling has on crime.

(PRWEB) February 25, 2009 -- Today, the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (www.gamblinghelp.org) (FCCG) announced that Governor Charlie Crist has proclaimed the week of March 1st through 7th as Problem Gambling Awareness Week in the State of Florida, to coincide with the nationally declared awareness week. The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) is joining forces with the Governor, numerous mayors and organizations across the state, to raise public awareness about the effects of pathological (commonly referred to as compulsive) gambling, and spread the message of hope that gambling addiction is treatable for those who seek help. The theme for this year's PGAW is Shining the Light on Problem Gambling with a focus on the impact compulsive gambling has on crime.

According to statistics from the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling 24 Hour HelpLine from January 2008 through January 2009:

•    Almost one in every three callers (30%) admit to committing illegal acts to finance their gambling, committing crimes that are linked to money.

•    Almost two out of three callers (62%) reported committing fraud, writing bad checks or forgery

•     One out of five callers (21%) stated they had embezzled money for employers

•    One out of five callers (21%)claimed to have committed larceny or theft against friends, family members or strangers

•    One out of 14 callers (7%) stated they had been involved with other illegal activities such as selling drugs, prostitution, illegal gambling (booking) and others

Further legal actions had been enacted against the gambler for their activities in 20% of the contacts

•    One out of ten (11%) had been arrested and given probation

•    Almost one out of every four callers (24%) had been arrested and sent to jail/prison and received probation

•    One out of three callers (64%) had civil actions brought against them such as lawsuits for failure to repay debts (credit cards, loans, and child support), divorce, foreclosure of residence and others

According to Pat Fowler, Executive Director for the Council, "There are more than one million Florida residents who struggle with difficulties due to gambling. As the number of people addicted to gambling increases, a new population of those committing crimes is created. Many of these individuals have no prior history of violating the law, and appear to have done so only as a result of their gambling addiction. Just review some of the recent media reports."

DCF SUPERVISOR gets 17 years in prison for embezzling 1.54 million dollars. The money was used by the DCF supervisor and her 2 friends to gamble, each of whom were sentenced to 10 years in prison. The DCF supervisor took advantage of knowledge of the DCF system to fraudulently gain access to funds that were set aside for social services and underprivileged people. Sun-Sentinel, 2008

LUXURY AUTO DEALER embezzles $500,000 to fuel gambling habit (online and sports betting). He would funnel petty cash funds ($20,000 at a time) in his accounts. St Petersburg Times, 2007

CLEARWATER ACCOUNTANT steals 1.6 million dollars to fund addiction (horse betting). He was an accountant for a law firm and transferred firm funds to his personal accounts. Tampa Bay 10, 2009

DELRAY BEACH PRIESTS embezzle over 8 million dollars to fund gambling trips and lavish lifestyles. Palm Beach Post, 2009

WEIGHT WATCHERS is suing a casino where ex-bookkeeper lost large amounts of money she embezzled. The branch she worked for was the main location for Southern Alabama and Northern Florida. The worker embezzled almost 1 million to fund her gambling addiction. Clarion Ledger, 2009

FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPER loses his job after admitting that he took money from people, he believed to be illegally in this country, during traffic stops. He admitted that he used the money because of a drinking and gambling problem. Orlando Sentinel, 2009

These are just a few of the stories that recently made headlines involving embezzlement and white collar crime.

Problem Gambling Awareness Week provides the Council with an opportunity to partner with the state and local organizations to raise the awareness and shine the light on problem gambling. We hope numerous others will join the FCCG in this initiative to raise awareness of the issue, so that those in need can find help. For more information, call 888-ADMIT-IT, or visit us online at www.gamblinghelp.org.

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Contact Information Pat Fowler

The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling

http://www.gamblinghelp.org

407-865-6200