Gamblers' Help gets Donation

11/03/2008		Gamblers' Help gets Donation
Home History Games News Dictionary		The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling has received a hefty donation last week that may allow the group to more actively help those who suffer from gambling addictions. The Group, led by executive director Pat Fowler, has been struggling in recent years with the responsibility of helping those with gambling problems, but because of financial straits, have more often than not been simply a phone service providing additional references. When those in need call in, the council has been unable to do little more than redirect them to other groups. But that may be changing as a generous donation was received by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in the amount of $300K. The funds were specifically earmarked to be used towards the treatment of those who suffer gambling problems. Pat Fowler explained the issue in an interview with the Sun-Sentinel of South Florida, “As you can imagine, many people facing this issue don't have the funds to go out and pay for treatment. Some do fine with just a support group, but one size doesn't fit all, and there are people who need clinical help.” The donation was presented to the council, headed by Fowler on Tuesday, given by the president for the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, Florida, John Fontana. Fontana, conveniently, is also a member on the Council’s Board of Directors. But there are those who are dubious it will be enough; and others who feel it was a tongue in cheek gesture. A gambling analyst for OCA, Seymour Bradley, made a comment regarding the amount of money that was given compared to the “millions made daily by the tribe that is not currently taxed,” and went on to imply that additional and larger donations would be more helpful than this week’s “nice gesture.”

11/03/2008

Gamblers' Help gets Donation

The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling has received a hefty donation last week that may allow the group to more actively help those who suffer from gambling addictions. The Group, led by executive director Pat Fowler, has been struggling in recent years with the responsibility of helping those with gambling problems, but because of financial straits, have more often than not been simply a phone service providing additional references. When those in need call in, the council has been unable to do little more than redirect them to other groups.

But that may be changing as a generous donation was received by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in the amount of $300K. The funds were specifically earmarked to be used towards the treatment of those who suffer gambling problems. Pat Fowler explained the issue in an interview with the Sun-Sentinel of South Florida, “As you can imagine, many people facing this issue don't have the funds to go out and pay for treatment. Some do fine with just a support group, but one size doesn't fit all, and there are people who need clinical help.”

The donation was presented to the council, headed by Fowler on Tuesday, given by the president for the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, Florida, John Fontana. Fontana, conveniently, is also a member on the Council’s Board of Directors.

But there are those who are dubious it will be enough; and others who feel it was a tongue in cheek gesture. A gambling analyst for OCA, Seymour Bradley, made a comment regarding the amount of money that was given compared to the “millions made daily by the tribe that is not currently taxed,” and went on to imply that additional and larger donations would be more helpful than this week’s “nice gesture.”