Guinn Chooses
Nine for Problem Gambling Panel
Gov. Kenny Guinn on Tuesday
named the nine members of the new Advisory Committee
on Problem Gambling.
The committee was created during the 2005 Legislature's
passage of a Senate bill that set aside a $2.5 million
fund to help problem gamblers.
The creation of the committee to study the issue
was part of the bill.
"Gaming is the backbone of Nevada's economy,"
Guinn said.
"I am thankful that the Legislature has taken
steps to ensure that Nevadans have access to prevention
and treatment programs associated with problem gambling."
In its first year, the fund will take $1 of an
existing slot tax charged on every gaming machine
in Nevada, increasing to $2 in its second year.
The transfer would then end, and the problem-gambling
effort would have the $2.5 million funding pool
for grants and programs.
The Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling will
work within the Department of Human Resources.
The legislation called for the committee to be
made up of gaming licensees, educators, veterans
organization representatives, people with experience
in mental health, and representatives from problem
gaming assistance and treatment organizations.
From Las Vegas, Guinn appointed Station Casinos
Chief Financial Officer Glenn Christenson, Bellagio
Vice President Bill Bingham and Herbst Gaming general
counsel Sean Higgins.
Also appointed were Carol O'Hara and Ken Templeton,
representing problem gambling organizations, and
Rena Nora, representing veterans' organizations.
Also named to the committee were Ray Kendall of
Carson City and Denise Quirk of Reno, representing
mental health professionals; and University of Nevada,
Reno professor William Eadington.
State Sens. Dennis Nolan, Randolph Townsend, Bill
Raggio and Valerie Wiener wrote the bill.
|
