Nevada to Divert Problem Gambling Offenders to Therapy

Nevada passed a new law allowing judges the discretion to label offenders as problem gambling sufferers, qualifying them to seek therapy and possibly avoid prison sentences.

After years of treating lawbreakers whose offenses were driven by compulsive gambling the same as any other criminal, Nevada will change policy and treat sufferers from problem gambling in much the same fashion as drug addicts. This past Friday, Governor Jim Gibbons signed a law permitting judges to sentence problem gamblers to therapy and treatment rather than prison.

According to the law, a judge who believes a convicted criminal is under the influence of gaming compulsions, the judge can defer sentencing while putting the gambler under supervision for up to three years, and order community service performance. After the supervised period ends, the judge can either set aside the conviction or impose a prison term at that time.

Domestic and child abusers are among a select group of convicts who are not allowed to enjoy the options of the gambling program.

The move was hailed both by casino industry executives and mental health professionals.

“If you don’t create a problem gambling court, you do nothing to address the underlying problem,” said Alan Feldman to the Las Vegas Sun. Feldman is both a senior vice-president at MGM Mirage and a board member of the National Center for Responsible Gaming.

“The success of these courts over the last decade has been proven, and it made it easier to sell this program,” says Reno Justice of the Peace Harold Albright, a leading supporter of the new law.

While drug diversion courts exist in almost every state, only New York, Louisiana, and now Nevada provide the same program for addicted gamblers.