History of Gambling in Wisconsin

CURRENT CASINO EXPANSION EFFORTS

Two casino proposals are currently in the works, with more to likely follow. We can also expect proposals for casinos in Kenosha and Sheboygan to gain new life in the future. The Ho-Chunk is proposing to build an off-reservation casino in Beloit, and the Lac du Flambeau are seeking to build a casino in Shullsburg.

The Ho-Chunk submitted its application to the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ regional office in Minnesota this spring after the Beloit City Council, Rock County Board and Ho-Chunk legislators approved an intergovernmental agreement. If Bureau of Indian Affairs’ approves the application, the final decision will be made by the Governor.

The Lac Du Flambeau submitted their application to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the spring of 2013. If approved, the final decision will also be made by the Governor.

PROBLEM GAMBLING IN WISCONSIN

According to Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling’s Fact Sheet, problem gambling has had the following impact on Wisconsin communities and its residents:

• Approximately 333,000 Wisconsin residents have a gambling problem.
• Calls to the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling’s 24-hour Helpline have increased 329% since 1996.
• The 24-hour Helpline received 14,731 calls in 2014.
• The average debt of callers contacting the Helpline is $46,967.
• Female gamblers calling the Helpline have increased 91% since 1996.
• Seniors and adolescents are at high risk to become addicted to gambling.
• 65% of compulsive gamblers commit crimes to finance their gambling.
• Six to twenty percent of adolescents develop gambling problems.
• Suicide rates are 20 times higher among pathological gamblers compared to non-gamblers.
• People who have other addictions are at a higher risk of becoming addicted to gambling.
• Women, children and older adults are among the highest risk groups. Read more here.

THE SOCIAL COSTS OF PROBLEM GAMBLING

Problem [PG] and pathological [PAG] gambling result in considerable expenditures to the gamblers, their families, employers, taxpayers, and multiple institutions. While the economic impacts are great, social costs are immeasurable.

• $1,200: The annual cost per pathological gambler[1]
• $715: The estimated annual costs per problem gambler[1]

Compare that to the annual financial costs per:

• Smokers: $1,500;
• Car crash: $3,600;
• Person with mental illness: $2,300[1]
• $39,000: The average cost to creditors per personal bankruptcy
• $3,300: Excess lifetime costs of bankruptcy per pathological gambler
• $1,600: Excess lifetime costs of bankruptcy per problem gambler

DEBT AND SPENDING PATTERNS OF PROBLEM GAMBLERS

• 90% of pathological gamblers gambled with their paychecks or family savings[1]
• 30% of pathological gamblers reported gambling debts ranging from $75,000 – $150,000[1]
• Over 60% of pathological gamblers reported borrowing money from friends/relatives to avoid credit problems; while 20% borrowed money from loan sharks[1]

WORK RELATED COSTS OF PROBLEM GAMBLING

• $45 million: Estimated costs to US employers from gambling related absences[1]
• The majority of PAGs reporting missing work to gamble (61%), half of them did so over 5 times per month[1]
• 50% of PAGs reported almost losing their jobs due to gambling, while 36% had lost their jobs[1]
• 15% of PAGs, and over 10% of PGs reported receiving unemployment benefits in the past year, compared to less than 5% of low-risk and non-gamblers[1]
• Workplace Theft: reported by 37% of PAGs
• Decreased productivity: 59% of PAGs reported difficulty concentrating at work due to a preoccupation with gambling and gambling debts[1]

DIVORCE RATES

The rate of divorce among PAGS and PGs is significantly higher (53.5% and 39.5%, respectively), than the rate among low-risk gamblers (29.8%) and non-gamblers (18.2%)1.  PAGs have excess legal costs related to divorce of $4,300; while PGs have excess legal costs of $1,950[1]

This does not include direct costs of divorce like food stamps, housing assistance and child support which is estimated at $33.3 billion annually[1] 

COST OF GAMBLING TREATMENT

• More than 20:1-Benefit to cost ratio of gambling treatment. PAG is one of the most expensive illnesses to society, yet it is also one of the least expensive to treat and the most “curable”[1]
• Roughly 3% of PAGs seek gambling treatment each year (excluding Gamblers Anonymous) [1]
• $1,000: Estimated annual cost of gambling treatment per PAG who obtains treatment[1]
• $30: the annual cost of gambling treatment per PAG[1]

Wisconsin Casino Locations