Gambling addiction meet planned

For most of the history of legal gambling in Nevada, the state studiously avoided doing anything about gambling addiction.

In the late 1990s, with a federal gambling impact commission planning a Nevada hearing, state regulators took some token steps —like requiring casinos to make leaflets available in their facilities—to avoid bad publicity.

Then in 2003, Gov. Kenny Guinn really broke the barrier and proposed creation of a state program to aid addicts. The Nevada Legislature approved the program and even increased its budget over Guinn’s recommendation.

Now, a state conference on the problem is being planned, to be held in Reno, April 25-26, 2013. Information can be found at www.nevadacouncil.org/2013_conference.php.

Oh, and the conference is slated to be held at—a casino.