Posted on 03/11/2005 5:12:43 AM PST by Millicent_Hornswaggle
ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (AP) -- On Bravo, it's "Celebrity Poker Showdown." On ESPN, it's "The World Series of Poker." On compulsive-gambling help lines, the real stakes emerge. Now a New Jersey lawmaker wants cable networks that feature gambling to help gambling addicts by giving money to treatment agencies. Assemblywoman Joan Voss, a Democrat, on Tuesday called for a surcharge on state cable providers if the networks don't cooperate. "Cable television channels that are heavily promoting the Texas Hold 'Em rage should be held responsible for some of the unglamorous side effects, like juvenile gambling addictions," said Voss. New Jersey casinos kick in $600,000 annually for anti-compulsive gambling programs; it's only fair that poker networks contribute, according to Voss. The broadcast media "have almost completely failed to provide any sort of health warnings, public service announcements or responsible gambling tips," said Keith Whyte, executive director of the Washington-based National Council on Problem Gambling. In New Jersey, 28 percent of the nearly 20,000 calls made to the state help-line last year came from gamblers who cited cards or dice as their gambling vices, up from 4 percent in 2003, according to figures released Tuesday. Voss said easy access to the television coverage by young viewers is dangerous. Whyte said poker-playing minors are increasingly calling the National Council's help line. The surcharge, Voss said, would be imposed on cable providers who air poker tournaments, requiring them to collect the money from cable networks without passing on the charge to customers. ESPN spokeswoman Keri Potts said the sports cable network needed to review the proposal before it could respond. Dan Silberman, a spokesman for Bravo, said "Celebrity Poker Showdown" isn't really gambling, since the proceeds go to charity.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
according to the libs everyone except yourself.
(And then she might want to consider closing down Atlantic City prior to going after Celebrity Poker Showdown.
Excuses! Excuses! Excuses!
Maybe she can call for Hollywood "cops and robber" shows to cover the costs of bank robberies.
It's Bush's fault.
So, by extension, NBC (Cheers) should give money to groups that treat alcohol addicts, right? And Ted Danson, too--he owned the freakin' bar.
Too many lawmakers have no clue about economics.
Well, that one guy sued NBC, beacuse watching fear factor made him ill, and emotionally scarred him for life.
Yeah, and the judge threw it out.
Just another freeloading Democrat looking for a handout. Nothing new here folks, move along now, move along.
Imagine that. In an effort to avoid placing responsibility where it belongs, a new tax is proposed by a Democrat.
That's gotta be a first!
The depths of liberal thinking is unbelievable!
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