"The lottery, tribal gaming and pari-mutuel racing generated $184 million in state revenue in 2009 alone. The $750,000 spent to help problem gamblers amounts less than one-half of 1 percent of revenue. By contrast, the board that governs the state’s Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust is spending about one-third of its $19.9 million budget this fiscal year on cessation efforts, including $5 million for its help line.

This outlay makes sense — our smoking rate has long exceeded the national average, and tobacco-related illnesses take a huge toll on Oklahomans and on our economy. But it’s safe to assume few smokers have resorted to stealing to feed their addiction, which happens all too often with gambling.

Tribes and the state, which have benefited so much from the lottery and the expansion of gaming since 2004, should look to do more to assist those who have been adversely affected by the same."

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Editorial: Additional efforts needed to help problem gamblers (The Oklahoman 3/24)