In an effort to encourage problem gamblers to seek help, the Oregon Lottery reportedly intends to advertise a help line phone number on each and every of its 11,070 video gaming machines statewide. According to agency officials, the tags would be displayed in a visible spot on the video gambling terminals, including video poker and slot machines.
In Oregon, slots and other gambling addicts, as well as their families, enjoy free treatment. Each year, an estimated 1,500 individuals seek problem gambling-related treatment.
The lottery began offering video poker machines in 1992. A year ago, the organization also introduced slots games, worsening even further the addicted gamblers problem. According to Lottery spokesman Chuck Baumann, the lottery's new decision is not expected to come into effect until October, since the organization has yet to design the future help line tags.
|
