Posted on 04/21/2005 8:13:00 AM PDT by WKB
SALEM, Ore. - Maryann started gambling 10 years ago, playing video poker machines in hotel restaurants in Oregon as she traveled for her job.
"It got so any place I would see a lottery sign and that was a restaurant or other place that was comfortable, I would play," said the woman, who is in her 40s.
She figures she lost $60,000 on video poker before admitting she had a problem and enrolling in a gambling-addiction treatment program.
Maryann, who doesn't want her last name used, is among a growing number of women across the nation who are getting hooked on gambling.
Nationwide, men make up two-thirds of problem gamblers. But that may be changing in states where video gambling is no further away than a corner deli or tavern.
Video gambling machines have particular appeal to women, said Rachel Volberg, a Massachusetts researcher who has studied problem gambling.
"The games are a lot less intimidating for women to play," Volberg said. "You don't have to sit at a card table and have men making jokes about 'the little woman learning how to gamble."'
Oregon is one of nine states that allow games such as video poker and electronic keno in bars, taverns and other retail outlets apart from casinos.
The National Council on Problem Gambling says there's been an uptick in compulsive gambling by women in those states with widespread "convenience" gambling.
"As electronic gaming devices spread throughout the country, we are seeing greater numbers of women with gambling problems," said Keith Whyte, executive director of the Washington-based group.
Part of the reason is that the games often are located in brightly lit, attractive places such as coffee shops, delis and bowling alleys, not just in smoke-filled bars and taverns, Whyte said.
"Women feel comfortable in these places," he said.
Few states with widely available video gambling have conducted studies to track rates of compulsive gambling among women, Volberg said. But officials in several of those states said there's no doubt that a "feminization" of gambling is taking place.
In Louisiana, where there are 10,000 video gambling terminals at 3,000 locations statewide, 57 percent of the calls to that state's gambling addiction hotline are from women.
"The video machines are everywhere," says Reece Middleton of the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling. "It's no wonder we've got women in trouble
True...but you do in SCCA..many many mons ago, I raced a 190SL in F class at Lime Rock...thing was soooo underpowered..Teutonic 4 banger...I thought the shift lever was gonna fall apart..I had to work it so much
I've had a few sports cars: '54 Corvette, '56 Austin Healey LeMans and a '60 Lotus Super 7 ~ the Corvette has a PowerGlide slush box and it wasn't really a sportscar, I took over the payments from the guy who moved in my wife '57 as he couldn't support her and make payments on the Vette ~ one of my better trades. :)
I totaled the Vette and bought the '56 Healey and in '60 I bought the Lotus. You could heel and toe the Healey and Lotus ~ the Healey wasn't a great performer, it just looked great. The Lotus Super 7 on the other hand was a real performer ~ it was an autocrossing demon. :)
Exactly. Gambling is perfectly wholesome and good. A wonderful passtime for the whole family.
It was in the case of my family. I grew up playing cards, gambling on the games, and gambling on my golf game against other family members.
A sizable amount. The "Senior Shuttle" to Atlantic City is huge business on the east coast and especially in retirement communities.
Well, I could be a mechanic at the table if I wanted to as I am a magician. But the two lowest forms of life are rats and cheats.
ROFL!
Just like teasin' Piranas. I love the game!
...
What I was thinking about is a technique used in the spridget (the car I wrecked).
You rest your right foot on the brake and the accelerator, at the same time.
Then, you roll your ankle to use the pedal you need at the time.
My foot was too little to do that. ;o)
Now...what's 'heel and toe'?
Friendly wagering amongst friends and family I one thing. Frequent high stakes casino gambling is quite another.
So you can't provide anything from Bennett that shows him to be a hypocrite.
"Heel and Toe"..a pair of open toed Manolo Blahniks with 5" heels..AWESOME
LOL!
And, you would know this how...???
I read the NY Post...
Ooops! It was Vicksburg. I had flown into Jackson to go to a meeting at Grand Gulf plant.
I thought you might have had personal
experience...;o)
Nah...too me..a woman is sexiest in a pair of running shoes...and my real turn on..since you ask...is "sports bras"
Have you ever noticed that when your gambling friends win, they brag about it and when they lose, they lie about it?
I like to go barefooted.
And, I'm not going any further than that. ;o)
" I'm sorry but I am gonna have to report this
to the
"FR You Made a Mistake in spelling,grammar and or thought Police."
You will be notified in FR mail of their
decision on your penance" :>)"
LOL! You are SUCH a mess. ;o)
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