Data on compulsive gamblers who turned to the Eldar Center for treatment in 1996

For the first time in 10 years the issue of compulsive gambling has become applicable in over 5% of families in the State of Israel.

These families have suffered financial destruction due to the addiction of a member of the family. This phenomenon has widened in the last year and today encompasses all factions of Israeli society. It strikes men, women, senior citizens and youth as well. We claim that the main reason for this rise is the stampede of Israeli's to the casino in Jericho.

Since it's opening, an average of 3000 Israelis visit it per day and over $2 billion dollars has been left there, just in 1999. One kind of addiction, particularly devastating, and currently in the top position in our list of severity, is the addiction to the National Lottery games such as `Lotto`- the numbers game, `Chish Gad`- instant winnings, and `Chance`- a card game. There are those, who within a period of 5 to 10 years have invested up to half a million Shekel ($125,000).

About 50% of those turning to treatment are addicted to the National Lottery games. The National Lottery booths are a source of persuasion and encouragement for gambling. They advance limitless credit with no proportion to the customers financial abilities. There is no law restricting credit funding to those addicted to the National Lottery and who believe the `get rich quick` advertisements. Many compulsively addicted owe huge sums to the booth proprietors.

There is need for a law prohibiting credit to National Lottery gamblers- including, teen-agers and children under the age of 18 who fall prey to this game and end up with debts way above their ability to repay. During the last year, opening a legal casino in the south of Israel was proposed.

Those raising this proposal do not mention anything about establishing any treatment orders to work parallel to this casino. Furthermore, there is complete disregard of the long term implications on the various levels: the influence of gambling on the society, the financial state of the families of those who have lost everything due to gambling. In contrast to the expected monetary profits, the damage and loss to society must be taken into consideration.

The Eldar Center receives about 300 calls a year from worried families of compulsive gamblers. In 1999, 30% of those turning to treatment were women, 20% young adults between the ages of 17-25, and 50% men. According to our estimates, there are approximately 200,000 compulsive gamblers in Israel, 30% of them women.