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Compulsive gambling hits vets, students hard

By Sascha Cordner

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-990286.mp3

Tallahassee, FL – As legislative leaders explore plans to expand gambling in the state, a presentation based on figures from the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling show military veterans and college student athletes are the most at risk for compulsive gambling. Sascha Cordner has more.

The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling says military vets and college student athletes are at a higher risk of being gambling addicts than others. Tiffany Harrington is a staffer for the Senate Regulated Industries Committee. She presented factors the council found to members of a Senate panel Monday:

"The council notes that military personnel, similar to collegiate athletes, may be at higher risk due to some characteristics that cover both populations: they're both very competitive groups, they're involved in high stress situations, and they're both risk-takers."

Harrington says the council has also indicated that many of the programs they offer that could help these segments of the population will be eliminated if their budget is cut any further. Those include programs like, "Combat Gambling Addiction: A Toolkit for the Military."