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New Tax Helps Problem Gamblers

WASHINGTON – As reported by the Olympian: "…Now low-income state residents with gambling addictions will have more help.

"A new tax on nontribal gambling establishments and the state lottery goes into effect today, which will fund the state's first permanent program to prevent and treat problem gambling.

"…The 0.1 percent tax on gross income from card games, bingo, raffles, punchboard and pull tabs as well as from certain types of horse racing goes into effect today. There will also be a 0.1 percent tax on net receipts of lottery tickets. In subsequent years the tax will go up to 0.13 percent for both.

"The tax is expected to bring in $1.5 million during the next two years. That's enough to treat 365 low-income people through outpatient care and 20 people in nonhospital residential treatment over the next two years.

"Washington does not have residential facilities, but patients with a serious gambling problem could be sent to another state that has such services for two weeks to one month, said Douglas Allen, a spokesman for the Department of Social and Health Services…"

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