Daily Archives: August 8, 2017

While millions of people engage in gambling activities with few or no apparent problems, this is not the case for everyone. Approximately three to four percent of the population report some gambling-related problems, while one to two percent report serious gambling-related problems. Furthermore, it is estimated that one problem gambler affects at least seven other peoplespouses, children, extended family members, and friends. Problem gambling can hurt not only ones finances, but ones physical and mental health, as well as relationships.

Gambling is risking something of value on the outcome of an uncertain chance event. Gambling is not inherently evil or harmful. Many people find it an exciting way to socialize and relax. Gambling can take many forms, ranging from lottery tickets, bingo, horse betting, casino games, to slot machines and video lottery terminals. There is cause for concern if you or someone close to you show five or more of the following signs (according to the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual):

With many gambling formats now legalized, the risks inherent in the activity are often overlooked. Relationship problems, social isolation, chronic or overwhelming stress, life transitions, recent crises and setbacks, helplessness and hopelessness due to poor coping skills, traumatic events past or present, environmental factors and possible genetic influences can all make a person vulnerable to problem gambling. Problem gamblers often use gambling as an escape from unpleasant feelings of helplessness, guilt, depression, and anxiety. In addition, some individuals falsely believe that their own control, skill or luck at gambling will help them win regularly. Early big wins may also set up unrealistic hopes for further wins. A person may focus more on the wins while minimizing losses and distort the reality of the situation.

More than a familys financial health is at stake when gambling problems enter the picture. The disclosure or discovery of the extent of losses is often sudden and devastating. This in turn takes a toll on the emotional and physical health of both gambler and spouse. In desperation, some problem gamblers resort to crimes such as forgery, fraud, theft, and embezzlement. Adolescent children of those with gambling problems are at increased risk of depressive feelings, conduct problems and gambling problems. As well, dealing with the secrecy and shame of gambling problems can increase familial stress and isolate the gambler and family from outside support. Depression, anxiety and substance abuse are often associated with serious gambling issues. Though difficult, speaking honestly and openly with a therapist knowledgeable about problem gambling can go a long way in turning things around.

A professional trained in working with problem gambling and marriage and family therapy can help the gambler and spouse discuss the reality of their situation respectfully and in safety. Both partners are given the opportunity to express their individual feelings and perspectives. Referrals to a financial or debt counselor may be made to manage financial losses. Treatment for gambling can range from brief, gambling behavior focused interventions to more in-depth work on underlying issues that contribute to gambling behaviors. These include:

Family members are one of the most precious assets as one goes through lifes ups and downs. Enhancing coping and communication skills, self and other awareness, mending broken relationships, and learning to regulate ones emotions can bring life back on track. A person may discover that when better personal and relationship resources are used to navigate lifes challenges, gambling as a problem falls away.

A licensed marriage and family therapist (MFT) with knowledge of problem gambling can be a very important resource to arrest problem gambling before it spins further out of control. Many individuals and couples have found the crisis of problem gambling to be an opportunity to look at issues they have neglected for a long time. Seizing this moment as an opening for growth and healing has brought hope and renewal to many who seek help. By Bonnie K. Lee, PhD, and Michelle P. Browne. Use the AAMFT Consumer Update "Problem and Pathological Gambling" pamphlets to market your practice. Find a qualified Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in your area.

Visit link:

Problem Gambling - AAMFT

What is Pathological Gambling?

Gambling addiction, also known as pathological gambling, compulsive gambling, problem gambling, or gambling disorder involves maladaptive patterns of gambling behavior that the individual persists with, despite negative consequences. This is consistent with behavior patterns observed in other addictions.

Gambling Disorder is currently the only behavioral addiction included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5).

Previously, Pathological Gambling was classified as an "Impulse Control Disorder," where the essential feature is the failure to resist an impulse, drive or temptation to perform an act that is harmful to the person or to others (p. 609, DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Pathological Gambling has been renamed Gambling Disorder, and moved to a new category, Addiction and Related Disorders in DSM 5. As problem gambling has been increasingly recognized, treatment of problem gambling has fallen within the realm of addiction services.

Not all excessive gamblers are pathological, compulsive or problem gamblers. There are several different types of gambler. Pathological gambling is characterized by:

Money is central to the experience of gambling. People with gambling addiction, as with other people, attach many different positive attributes to money, such as power, comfort, security and freedom.

Unlike other people, they fail to recognize that gambling puts them at risk of losing all of these attributes and that gambling is a random process, where the odds are stacked against them, so they are more likely to lose than to win. Furthermore, when they do win, people with gambling addictions tend to gamble away their winnings quickly.

There are many different gambling behaviors, which can be engaged in either alone or in social settings. Some examples of gambling behaviors are:

Gambling is an ineffective and unreliable way of acquiring money. For someone to become addicted to gambling, their cognitions or thought processes must become distorted to the point where this central truth eludes them.

Ten Types of Cognitive Distortion

Many problem gamblers thoughts are distorted in the following ways:

Attribution - Problem gamblers may believe their winnings occur as a result of their efforts and not randomly.

Magical thinking - Problem gamblers may believe that thinking or hoping in a certain way will bring about a win or that random outcomes can be predicted.

They may also believe they are special in some way and that their specialness will be rewarded with a win.

Superstitions - Problem gamblers may believe that lucky charms, certain articles of clothing, ways of sitting, etc., may cause a win or a loss.

Systems - Problem gamblers may believe that by learning or figuring out a certain system (a pattern of betting in a particular way), the house advantage can be overcome. Although professional gamblers were more able to predict payouts with earlier technologies, which relied on more predictable patterns of payouts, this required many hours of careful observation, and the machine always kept more than it paid out.

The increased computerization of gambling machinery has ensured that wins are now truly random, so it is impossible to predict a payout, and, of course, it is still heavily stacked in favor of the house.

Selective recall - Problem gamblers tend to remember their wins and forget or gloss over their losses.

Personification of a gambling device - Problem gamblers sometimes attribute human characteristics to inanimate objects, which are part of the gambling process, thinking that a particular machine is punishing, rewarding or taunting them.

Near miss beliefs - Problem gamblers reduce the number of losing experiences in their minds by thinking they almost won. This justifies further attempts to win. Near misses can be as stimulating, or even more stimulating, than actual wins.

Chasing losses - Problem gamblers believe that they have not really lost money to gambling, but that it can be won back by further gambling.

Many of these thought distortions lead to highly ritualized patterns of behavior, which are characteristic of addictions.

Like other behavioral addictions, gambling addiction is a controversial idea. Many experts balk at the idea that gambling can constitute an addiction, believing that there has to be a psychoactive substance that produces symptoms, such as physical tolerance and withdrawal, for an activity to be a true addiction.

Gambling, however, is by far the best represented behavioral addiction in research literature and treatment services; therefore, pathological gambling has the most credibility among the behavioral addictions.

This is partly due to financial input from the gambling industry, whose contribution is tiny compared to the massive profits they make but greatly exceeds funding for research or treatment of any other behavioral addiction. Despite the fact that this funding has greatly increased public awareness of gambling problems and treatment services, the potential conflict of interest when funding comes from a source that makes profit from gambling addiction is obvious.

Sources:

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th Ed.) Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. 1994.

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. 2013.

Davis Consulting for The British Columbia Problem Gambling Program. "Problem Gambling Training Manual: Level 1" Vancouver, BC. 2001.

Orford, J. Excessive Appetites: A Psychological View of Addictions. (Second Edition). Chichester: Wiley. 2001.

See the article here:

Signs of Pathological Gambling and Gambling Addiction

The Trump Organization has been zealously enforcing and protecting its intellectual property rights around the world for more than 20 years, particularly in jurisdictions where trademark infringement is rampant, Amanda Miller, a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization, said in an email. The trademark applications you are referring to simply represent a continuation of those efforts.

Macau, a former Portuguese enclave on Chinas southern coast that returned to Chinese control in 1999, is the only part of China where casino gambling is legal. After it opened up its gambling monopoly in 2001, new casinos and an influx of visitors from mainland China led to a full gambling boom, attracting American companies like Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts. The tiny enclave surpassed the Las Vegas Strip for total revenues in 2006.

Mr. Trump began operating casinos in Atlantic City in the 1980s, eventually running four that held as much as about 30 percent of the citys gambling market in the 1990s. His casino companies sought bankruptcy protection multiple times, and he quit the board in 2009.

Trump trademark applications in Macau go back to 2006 and include Trump, Donald J. Trump, Trump Tower, Trump International Hotel and Tower and Chun Pou a Cantonese version of Mr. Trumps name.

The licenses issued after Macau opened up its gambling monopoly will soon begin to expire, which could open the market further. The South China Morning Post reported on the filings on Sunday.

Gaming concessions for the six casino operators in Macau will expire between 2020 to 2022, Desmond Lam, an associate business professor at the University of Macau, said by email. The industry is still somewhat unclear what will happen to these concessionaires after that. Recently, there have been some rumors that the Macau government may allow a seventh operator to enter this market.

The Trump business has picked up efforts to protect its name in mainland China as well. China approved a Trump trademark for the use of his name in construction services in February, shortly after he acknowledged he would maintain American policy toward Taiwan, a key issue for Chinas leaders. The presidents critics said the episode showed how his companys overseas endeavors create a perception problem and expose him to potential conflicts.

The Trump business now holds at least 125 registered or provisionally approved trademarks in mainland China for a variety of services and products. Last month a trademark for the Trump name in relation to hotel restaurants was officially registered. Mr. Trump has no businesses in China, but the trademarks give some protection of his name in a country where knockoffs are commonplace.

The Trump Organization says those trademarks are registered with an affiliate and have nothing to do with Mr. Trump.

After denouncing China and its large trade gap with the United States during the presidential campaign, Mr. Trump eased off his criticism in hopes Beijing would be able to help curb North Koreas missile and nuclear weapons program.

But in recent weeks Mr. Trump has declared Chinas efforts to constrain Kim Jong-un, the Norths leader, a failure, declaring last month on Twitter he was very disappointed in China.

Zhang Tiantian in Beijing contributed research.

A version of this article appears in print on August 8, 2017, on Page A16 of the New York edition with the headline: Trump Company Moves to Protect Its Trademark in Chinese Gambling Hub.

Read this article:

Trump Company Moves to Protect Brand in Chinese Gambling Hub - New York Times

A firm called DTTM Operations LLC has applied for four new trademarks under the Trump brand in Macau, according to documents published by the government of the Chinese territory last week.

The company, which lists the Trump Tower at 725 Fifth Avenue in New York City as its address, submitted the applications two months ago, the documents revealed.

The applications were first reported by the South China Morning Post.

Related: Trump's newest Chinese trademarks: Religious clothing, advertising

The trademarks are for a wide range of Trump-branded services. One application lists hotels, restaurants, bars and conference facilities, while two others list "real estate services" and "real estate development and construction."

A fourth application requests a Trump trademark for "gambling and casino services and providing casino facilities."

The Macau government lists 22 other trademarks registered by DTTM Operations for various brands dating back to 2006, including Trump Tower, Trump International Hotel and Tower and the Donald J. Trump brand.

Related: Macau billionaire found guilty of bribing UN officials

Trump relinquished control of his businesses soon after he became president but hasn't sold his stake, instead transferring it to a trust run by his two sons -- a decision that has been criticized by ethics experts as inadequate in addressing perceived conflicts of interest.

Trump's company, the Trump Organization, said in a statement to CNNMoney that it "has been zealously enforcing and protecting its intellectual property rights around the world for more than 20 years, particularly in jurisdictions where trademark infringement is rampant."

The trademark applications in Macau "simply represent a continuation of those efforts," it said.

The company hasn't announced any plans to do business in Macau, and Trump said before he took office that his firm wouldn't do any "new deals" while he's in office.

The Macau government didn't respond to a request for comment Monday.

The semi-autonomous Chinese territory has become one of the world's top gambling destinations. Prominent U.S. casino magnates like Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson already own several casinos there.

Related: China jails top casino exec over gambling crimes

Trump is a former gambling tycoon himself, having built three casinos in New Jersey's Atlantic City in the 80s and 90s. Two of them -- Trump Plaza and Trump Taj Mahal -- have now been shut down, while the erstwhile Trump Marina Hotel Casino was sold in 2011 and rebranded as the Golden Nugget.

But none of the casinos contributing to Macau's multi-billion dollar gambling industry, which accounts for more than half of the territory's economy, currently bear the Trump name.

-- Jill Disis, Vasco Cotovio and Serenitie Wang contributed to this report

CNNMoney (New Delhi) First published August 7, 2017: 11:50 PM ET

More:

Trump brand applies for new Macau gambling trademarks - CNNMoney

by: Richard Elliot Updated: Aug 7, 2017 - 6:34 PM

ATLANTA - The Georgia Republican Party came out with a resolution this weekend officially opposing casino gambling. But one Republican lawmaker says he will try and push a gambling bill through the legislature anyway.

Alpharetta State Sen. Brandon Beach is a big supporter of what he calls destination resorts, which would include casino gambling.

He couldnt get a law passed last year, but he is promising to try it again, even with his own partys opposition.

Bud Griffy is a self-described proud Republican who says he doesnt see anything wrong with a casino in Georgia.

I think its fine. I dont see anything wrong with it. It brings in money to the state or the area and so forth, and you like a little entertainment every once in a while, so why not? Griffy told Channel 2s Richard Elliot.

The Georgia Republican Convention has a list of reasons why not. In a resolution passed over the weekend, the state GOP asked lawmakers to cease and desist with any efforts to open the state of Georgia to casino and horse racing gambling.

TRENDING STORIES:

They cite a list of reasons, including higher divorce rates, more crime and higher taxes to pay for things like the treatment of gambling addictions.

First ... I have the utmost respect for the Republican Party and the state committee, Beach said.

Beachs bill would require a minimum $2 billion private investment for the two resorts and would include a 20 percent tax rate on them, all of which, he believes would go to the HOPE scholarship and rural health care.

He thinks the bill should pass and the voters should decide.

"Theres nothing more conservative or more Republican than letting the voters have a say at the ballot box and vote on an issue," he said.

The destination resort bill will be back before lawmakers next January, but without Republican support, it will be an uphill climb to get it passed.

2017 Cox Media Group.

Read the rest here:

Casino gambling leads to higher divorce rates, more crime, GA Republicans say - WSB Atlanta

Cash, chips and dice on a craps table at a casino. AP file/Wayne Parry

As Georgia legislators prepare for another all-out debate over legalizing gambling, opponents will have an important ally.

The Georgia GOP state committee overwhelmingly passed a resolution over the weekend that opposes casinos and horse racing.

John Watson, the recently-elected chair of the Georgia GOP, recused himself from the Saturday vote. Watson, a veteran operative and lobbyist, has advocated for legalizing gambling on behalf of Boyd Gaming Corp.

The resolution cited concerns that gambling is tied to increasing crime and divorce rates, and warns it could open the door for any Indian tribe to venue shop for property to open casinos around the state.

The state should not have a vested interest in predatory activities such as gambling for the sake of filling state coffers at the expense of ruined lives and broken families, read the resolution.

More: Georgia GOP rejects a religious liberty litmus test for govcandidates

Casino advocates have sought for years to legalize gambling in Georgia, arguing that it could bolster the lottery-funded HOPE scholarship, which pays the in-state college tuition for students who maintain a 3.0 grade point average, as well as the pre-K program.

But the idea has triggered a flood of opposition from religious conservatives and other critics of the measure, and many united against legislation this year that would allow two destination resort casinos.

Update: An initial version of the resolution also would have included fantasy sports betting, but that was stricken from the text.

State Rep. Trey Kelley, who sponsored legislation to reclassify fantasy sports so it doesnt violate anti-gambling restrictions, said he was grateful activists ignored rhetorical cries to include the online games in the resolution.

The Georgia GOP faithful made a conscious decision to remove fantasy sports from this resolution, he said. Their action is in line with my repeated statements and the beliefs of mainstream Georgians that fantasy sports is a game of skill and a completely different issue from casino gambling.

Heres the full text of the resolution:

WHEREAS, Georgia Republican legislators have introduced legislation that would allow for casino gambling in Georgia; and

WHEREAS, the gambling bills now mask the negative connotations of casino gambling by referring to casinos euphemistically as destination resorts; and

WHEREAS, the usual arguments for opening the state to casino and horse racing continue to be, this will create jobs and it is for the children because it will generate revenue for Pre- K and for the HOPE scholarship, and

WHEREAS, these reasons fail to overcome the substantial societal costs of casino and horse racing, which include:

WHEREAS, all tax payers, including non-gamblers, end up paying higher taxes for these publicly borne social costs; and

WHEREAS, the proposed establishment of the gambling industry in Georgia violates free- market principles by instituting a politically protected industry that will drain customers from legitimate businesses not similarly protected; and

WHEREAS, once the gambling industry is allowed to operate legally in the state, its lobbying power will grow and increase its influence over legislators and local community officials; and

WHEREAS, once the State of Georgia allows Class III gambling, this would open the door for any Indian tribe to venue shop for property to open casinos on land that would be taken out of the governance of the State and off the local tax digest; and

WHEREAS, the State should not have a vested interest in predatory activities such as gambling for the sake of filling State coffers at the expense of ruined lives and broken families;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, We, the delegates of Georgia Republican Convention, urge the members of the Georgia Legislature to cease and desist with any efforts to open the State of Georgia to casino and horse racing;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Secretary of Georgia Republican Party Convention is directed to immediately transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party and to all elected Republican officials in the Georgia Senate and in the Georgia House; to the Honorable Nathan Deal, Governor of the State of Georgia, the Honorable Casey Cagle, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Georgia; and to the Honorable David Ralston, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Previous

Georgia hospitals in line to lose millions due to inaction on healthcare

Next

Georgia 2018: Shafer snags a George Bushendorsement

Read more here:

Georgia GOP strikes a blow against casino gambling | Political ... - Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)

Las Vegas Sands, the largest casino developer in the world based on revenue, said that it took in $3.14 billion in the second quarter, up 18.6 percent year-over-year.

The company, which has casinos in the U.S., China and Singapore, won $2.46 billion from gamblers during the quarter ending June 30, up more than 22 percent year-over-year

The performance, which beat Wall Street expectations, was largely due to the companys business in Asia. Sands has benefited from a market turnaround in Macau. The city has recorded 12 straight months of gaming revenue gains, which followed a two-year downswing. Since 2002, Sands has invested more than $13 billion in the only Chinese city with legal gambling.

Sands six properties in Macau generated $1.82 billion of the $3.14 billion, the company said. Its revenue there was up 23 percent compared to $1.48 billion from the second quarter of 2016.

The Macau market is growing and its growth rate has been accelerating for four consecutive quarters, Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson said in a statement. At the same time, the significant new supply that has been added on [the] Cotai [Strip] since 2015, amounted to more than 8,000 hotel rooms and more than US$13 billion of additional invested capital, has successfully been absorbed by the market.

The companys casino in Singapore, Marina Bay Sands, saw its revenue increase 17.7 percent in the quarter to $836 million. That was thanks to the gamblers, with gaming win of $690 million representing a 24 percent gain year-over-year.

The companys Nevada properties, The Venetian Las Vegas, The Palazzo and the Sands Expo and Convention Center, generated $384 million in revenue during the quarter, up eight percent year-over-year. Nearly $100 million of the total came from gaming, up nearly 20 percent.

However, table game and slot machine drop were down 6.1 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively. The firms Sin City casinos retained 16.3 percent of $352 million in table game drop, compared to 10.6 percent last year, and 8.3 percent of $606 million in slot machine bets, up from 7.7 percent. In other words, there was less gambling at the Las Vegas properties but gaming revenue was up thanks to gamblers being less fortunate than they were last year.

According to Sands, its expected baccarat win percentage is 18-26 percent, better than the rest of the table games which have an expected win percentage of 16-24 percent.

Over in Pennsylvania, where Sands has a single casino, revenue of $147 million was basically unchanged year-over-year. Gambling at Sands Bethlehem accounted for 93 percent of the revenue, but it was also less than a percent more than what was won during the same period last year. The Keystone State gaming market has been flat in recent years.

Sands said its company-wide net income increased 62 percent to $638 million in the second quarter of 2017, compared to $394 million in the year-ago quarter.

See original here:

Casino Gambling Business: Las Vegas Sands Generates $3B In Revenue In Q2 - CardPlayer.com