Gamblers' habits study methods called 'flawed'

The National Gambling Impact Study Commission voted 6-2 Friday to authorize the Chicago-based National Opinion Research Council to survey more than 500 gamblers at casinos, racetracks and lottery outlets.

NORC intends to conduct 125 of the interviews at Atlantic City, N.J., and Nevada casinos.

The American Gaming Association, which represents half of Atlantic City's casinos, has called NORC's method of studying gamblers' habits "seriously flawed."

Others said the money spent on the survey would be better spent elsewhere.

Members of the gambling commission acknowledged the survey might produce invalid statistics, but said it would provide valuable insight into gamblers' habits.

"What our function is now is to determine the effects of gaming on the people of the United States," Commissioner Paul Moore said. "This is something different..."

"I believe when we look at this as a full commission, if it (survey) is not good, then it won't go in the (commission's final) report," he added.

The survey is related to a national telephone poll of 3,000 people to gauge gambling habits.

The survey is designed not for statistical purposes, but "to supplement our knowledge of problem and pathological gambling behavior," said Commissioner Leo McCarthy, who chairs the research committee.

"Without the research that asks the right questions, the public will not really know the information they need as they weigh the judgments whether to initiate or expand or terminate legal gambling in their states," McCarthy added.

However, those in the casino industry fear the patron survey will yield flawed data that could be misinterpreted or misused by gambling opponents.

They pointed to NORC's pilot patron survey, which found that 36 percent of casino customers interviewed have a gambling "problem," based on clinical criteria.

"Today the commission took steps to continue the tradition of sloppy, third-rate research on matters related to gambling behavior and gambling policy in the United States," said Dean Hestermann, manager of policy analysis and research for Harrah's Entertainment Inc., which owns two casinos in Atlantic City.

"The American people and public policy deserve much better," he added.

John Wilhelm, president of a union that employs 75,000 casino workers and also a member of the Impact Study Commission, voted against the survey.

Wilhelm said it would produce no valid data. Its $86,000 cost, he said, would be better spent on expanding the commission's survey of teen-age gambling.

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