Legislation that would put up to $500,000 in new funds into state efforts to help gambling addicts cleared a Lousiana State House panel Tuesday.
The House Appropriations Committee endorsed House Bill 268 to add "racinos" -- race track casinos -- to the gambling venues required to contribute to compulsive gambling treatment programs.
The state lottery, the New Orleans land-based casino, riverboat casinos and video poker locations are already among those required to contribute.
Rep. Roy Burrell, D-Shreveport, the bill's author, said there are some 126,000 problem gamblers. "Current resources are reaching 2 percent of the identified problem we have," he said.
The legislation would set a cap of $500,000 on the assessment racinos would have to pay.
The bill goes to the House floor for debate.
Reprinted from 2theadvocate.com 5/19/05.
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