Delaware's House of Representatives is currently mulling a bill seeking to expand slots gaming in the state. With the “one-armed bandit” widening its reach across the state, however, comes increased potential for gambling addictions among its residents. Taking this into consideration, the slots expansion bill includes a provision that guarantees at least $1 million toward problem gambling treatment.
Current law provides that 1 percent of Delaware's cut from casino earnings be allocated to treatment services offered by the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health. To protect against possible dips in casino revenues, the law earmarks at least $100,000 for the Division. Instead of dipping, however, slots revenues have far exceeded expectations, and in 2005, the state was able to put $1.7 million into addiction treatment funding.
The proposed bill would make sure that, regardless of the popularity of slot machines across the state, the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health would get at least $1 million from gaming ventures. With the 1,500 slot machines allowed by the bill per establishment, for operation 24-7, save for a few hours on “the Lord's day” and, of course, Christmas and Easter, the Division may need every dollar they can get.
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