Lucky Red Casino
/News/

California Tribe San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino Trains Its Workers to Spot Problem Gamblers

On April 3, 2007, about 3,000 employees working for the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino were trained to instantly spot problematic gamblers and in the worst cases, help addicted gamblers. A reported 4 million residents of California are addicted to casino gambling.

Marc Lefkowitz, the Director of Training for the Non-profit California Council on Problem Gaming, said that California has the highest suicide rate regarding problem addiction. According to the San Manuel Tribe spokesman, Kenneth Shoji, top officials of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians began orienting their managers to recognize problem gamblers back in 2003, but the awareness seminar expanded to cover all 2,800 employees.

Lefkowitz began orienting the employees from the San Manuel Band of Missions last month. Information leaflets are available for addicted gamblers that seek assistance. But an assigned specialist, who will be called an "ambassador", will now assist the gamblers and offer some help as a last move.

Lefkowitz further stated that if an employee sees or hears someone at the end of their rope, he will report the incident to his supervisor, who will then report it to the "special ambassador". The ambassador will then talk to the gambler and ask him if everything is alright. The ambassador could give the gambler some references as well as a hotline help number, but must not project the image of intervention.

The casino owned by the San Manuel Band also has an exclusion regulation that permits managers to ask addicted gamblers to leave the casino premises. Marc Lefkowitz said that he has already held problem gambling awareness seminars at 10 other tribal owned casinos in the state of California.

A recent study regarding problem gambling shows that there are already 1.2 million problem gamblers and pathological addicted gamblers and about 2.7 million people are already at risk in the state of California. Most of the pathological and addicted gamblers enjoy the lottery and play at casinos.

 

Thursday, April 26 , 2007
Edward O'Connor