Professor Angry over Misuse of Online Gambling Research - 07-24-08 |
 July 24 - Dr. Jeffrey Derevensky, a professor at McGill University in Canada,
is up in arms over moves made by a US politician to distort facts found in his
research into gambling addiction, in order to defend the controversial Unlawful
Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
Rep. Spencer Bachus, a vocal supporter of the continuing online gambling ban
in the United States, told his country's House Financial Services Committee last
month that Professor Derevensky's online gambling research had led to the
frightening conclusion that one third of all college students who attempted
suicide also gambled online.
This (mis)information was heard by the Committee on June 25th as Bachus
brought counter arguments against Rep. Barney Frank and Rep. Ron Paul's attempts
to push forward the Payment Systems Protection Act, also known as HR 5767. Frank
and Paul's bill would have made it illegal for the US Department of Treasury and
Federal Reserve System to enforce the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement
Act.
Dr. Derevensky, who has pointed out his sentiments to both Rep. Frank and
Rep. Bachus in a written letter,? was rightfully indignant of Bachus' use
of the online gambling research and said in response to the Safe and Secure
Internet Gambling Initiative: "This assertion, which is reportedly based on our
empirical research, is not predicted upon any factual evidence. None of the
studies conducted with adolescents or college students, to the best of my
knowledge, have looked at a connection between internet wagering and suicide
attempts."
Dr. Derevensky also made no attempts to hide his opinion about the UIGEA.
"If congress is serious about minimizing the threat posed by internet gambling,"
he said, "it should look to create an environment where internet gambling
operators are required to put in place safeguards that protect against
compulsive and underage gambling."
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