Former Gambling Addict Raises Concerns about New Jersey Online Gambling Industry

Lawmakers debated the social risks raised by online gambling before the new industry was legalized last year. Some have stated that allowing people to gamble over the Internet would increase the prevalence of gambling addictions throughout the state. Others have argued that risk isn't nearly as high as they claim. A recovered gambling addict has recently warned that online gambling could create a new generation of problem gamblers.

Charles Mirarchi began gambling in Atlantic City nearly 40 years ago. He enjoyed gambling a little too much and quickly became addicted. Mirarchi had been a prominent lawyer and a renowned city in Atlantic City before gambling nearly destroyed his life.

Mirarchi has since recovered from his addiction. He feels compelled to warn people about the dangers of gambling addictions. He works as a counselor at a gambling addiction rehab center in Collingswood.

Mirarchi said that some of the people that enter the rehab center find it difficult to resist the temptation of online gambling. One of his clients sought help after playing poker on his phone for four days in a row. Mirarchi told the man to throw his phone away.

Donald Weinbaum, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Council on Compulsive Gambling shares his concern. Weinbaum said that his organization has seen a clear spike in the number of calls on its tip line since the state legalized online gambling in November. Weinbaum said that these people can access online gambling sites 24 hours a day. Many of them clearly have a difficult time resisting the temptation.

Weinbaum said that about 2-5% of the people that gamble develop addictions. While that statistic may not sound worrisome, it represents over a third of a million people in New Jersey. The prevalence of gambling addiction among young adults is nearly twice as high.

The Council on Compulsive Gambling predicts that the number of people suffering from gambling addictions could triple by the end of the year. State lawmakers still feel that the new market will have a positive net impact on New Jersey, but want to take all measures possible to fight gambling addiction. They encourage anyone suffering from these problems to self-exclude themselves on the Division of Gaming Enforcement website.