National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion is opposed to the expansion of casino gambling through toy slot machines destined to first-grade children
According to the chairman of the National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion (NCAGE), toy slot machines can be found between other toys and video games in global shops for children like Costco, Wal-Mart and Toys R Us. It is widely known that youngsters are three times more likely to become addicted to gambling than are adults. He calls it casino industrys equivalent of candy cigarettes and claims that these toys are clearly intended to promote gambling among children. The boldly printed message on the back of the Golden Nugget Casino toy says: when you are down on your luck visit the ATM, then hit the tables for more action, which in his opinion is unhealthy message which must not be read by grade school children.
In the 50s something similar occurred in the tobacco industry. Tobacco firms loaned their brands to candy manufacturers to produce candy cigarettes. The practice led to incensement of tobacco addiction. Now, he says, we see the same process, powered by casino industry. Casinos are preparing the next generation of clients.
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report published by the US Congress in 1999 states that adolescents are called a segment of the population who are at particular risk of developing gambling problems. This clearly is an area in which targeted prevention efforts should be launched. NCAGE also calls to raise the age level for the gambling games.
NCAGE strongly encourages all retailers and the ESRB to become aware of the major problem of infantile gambling addiction and prohibit distribution of these games among people who are not old enough to legally gamble in their states.
