Slot Machine Gambling Council Criticized

The Executive Director of the New Mexico Coalition Against Gambling is speaking out against a state group that has been formed to develop and plan for helping those that have been addicted to slot machines and gambling. Guy Clark has stated that the Compulsive Gambling Council is stacked in favor of the slot machine and gambling industry. The group was appointed by Governor Bill Richardson to help those with a slot machine gambling problem.

Clark states that since the group has several people on it that have ties to the slot machine and gambling industry, it creates a pro-gambling bias against the group. "You have people on the board that know if they actually do something serious about stopping problem [slot machine] gamblers from gambling, they will have to close their doors," he said.

Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Chairwoman of the council and the State Health Secretary, argues that the group is simply put together with the best minds in slot machine gambling to be found in the state. "The clear purpose here is to have a variety of experts who can assist the department to develop a plan that (addresses) compulsive [slot machine or other] gambling as an addiction and make sure we do two things: You do something about treating the addiction and then have the right strategies for prevention."

The council has fifteen members, two of which come from tribal gaming and one from the fraternal organizations that allow slot machines. They are charged with coming up with a plan on how to treat and solve slot machine and gambling problems.

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