It has been claimed by a spokesman for a chapter of Gamblers Anonymous in Quincy that since the Mark Twain Casino opened a decade ago there has not been a massive increase of people needing assistance with gambling problems connected with this establishment.
However, there have been a few, he explained.
“One young lady talks to me once every two or three months,” he said. “She realizes she has a problem and is slowly going broke. She has a good job. She had some savings, but she’s really struggling because she can’t quit going over there. She’s over there at least three or four times a week and just can’t seem to stay away.”
The spokesman, who didn’t want to be named, explained that he has spoken to other gamblers who have confessed to their issues with gambling worsening since the opening of the LaGrange Casino.
However, he did not want his comments to appear to be a personal attack against the casino admitting that, “They do some good for the community as far as tax revenue, creation of jobs, etc., but I know there are people out there who shouldn’t be on the boat.”
Mark Twain Effect
Mark Twain opened in 2001. During this period the number of calls to the Gambling Anonymous hotline went up to 2,846. In 2004 the number peaked at 3,527 but then diminished, falling to 1,682 in 2007.
A survey was carried out statewide this year, sponsored by the alliance, which showed that 0.4 percent of the Missouri population admitted to having financial difficulties due to gambling. In 2007, this figure stayed the same.
Gamblers Anonymous
The purpose of Gamblers Anonymous is to provide support for compulsive gamblers. It provides them with a platform on which they can communicate with others who are in a similar situation and therefore understand how they are feeling and what they are going through.
“You understand where they’re coming from,” the spokesman explained. “It’s just like Alcoholics Anonymous. Nobody understands an alcoholic like another alcoholic.”
He went on to tell how he received help around 11 years ago and is glad that he was able to do so before the opening of the Mark Twain Casino.
He explained, “I would drive to St. Louis. I would drive to Peoria. I would go up to the Chicago area. I would go to Burlington. I would go wherever there was a boat. Plus, I did lottery tickets and every other thing for gambling when I didn’t go to the boat.”
After receiving help through counseling, he then decided to assist running the chapter of Gamblers Anonymous in Quincy. The chapter has had troubles over the past few years in operating smoothly and was out of service for a period. However, six months ago it started up again.
Meetings take place on Sundays from 7 to 8.30 am at the Blessing Hospital’s auditorium, 11th Street campus. They are open to everybody and confidentiality is strictly observed.