Video Poker 247
- Video Poker More Addictive than Regular Poker
According to Robert Breen, Director of the Rhode Island Gambling
Treatment Program at Rhode Island Hospital, video poker is much more
addictive than table poker. Breen says that as it is so easy to push
the button over and over again, players don’t really see the money
going out the way they do at the tables. With video poker it all seems
somewhat pretend, and the rush they get from the push of the button
keeps them going.
Breen says that not only is video poker more addictive than regular
poker, but it is also more addictive than scratch tickets and many
other types of gambling as well. He says that his clients come to him
over and over again saying that they had gambled everything away on
video poker machines in a very short amount of time, but had gone
years before betting in other arenas and never run into the same kind
of trouble.
With New Hampshire seeking to legalize video poker and slot machines
in their state, Breen came to speak to them about the dangerous path
that they were taking. Breen was joined by other experts on the topic
who also said that the risks involved with legalizing slots and video
poker machines far outweighed the benefits that the state would see
from them.
The state already allows lottery tickets and charitable gambling, but
does not currently allow for slots or video poker. Breen says that on
average, a player will become addicted to a video poker game in one
year, compared to four years for other types of gambling. He says that
70% of his patients are video poker or slot machine addicts.
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November 2007 Archive
