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Gambling in Great Falls

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Nov 21, 2008 at 6:59 PM MST

Story Updated: Nov 22, 2008 at 10:53 PM MST

The drive down 10th Avenue South in Great Falls looked a lot different twenty-five years ago. Casinos started to spring up in the mid-80s and now you'll find ten of them on the main drag alone. So what effect does the gaming industry have on our community nearly 25 years after the Video Poker Machine Act was passed? Great Falls resident Jane Yonkin says her hidden addiction to gambling consumed her life for fifteen years. "It was horrible, suicide was there…it was one of the options because I let my life go so badly…I didn't feel I had anywhere to turn,” she said. The darkest hours of life were spent in front of the flashing lights of electronic machines. "Almost from my very first time, there was a problem. I lost like only a dollar, but I wanted to win it back, like me versus the machine.” It was so easy to wage that war against the machine. She just put her money in and kept pushing the button. "There’s a high from pressing the button…I might win, I might win, I might win." It was that high that kept her coming back. "It’s a really great high. I hit, I won…. but then I felt like I won this so maybe I can win more." But statically no one can beat the machines in the long run and though she knew that Jane just couldn't stop. "I was in denial, in the back of my mind I knew it was a problem. I told myself I could stop but it came to a head when I wrote an $1,100 check I couldn't cover. I had no savings, nothing in checking. The only thing that came to mind was to pawn the car." While scrambling to find her car title, she reached her breaking point and decided she had to seek help. After joining Gamblers Anonymous and completing a 12-step program Jane hasn't gambled in more than two years. “I represent a lot of people in this town that there is a bigger problem than most people would like to admit,” she said. But is there really a problem? "I think we've all learned and there's been national studies that it's very addictive. Gambling can be as much of an addiction as drugs and alcohol,” Gene Huntington, Administrator with the Gambling Division, told News Channel 5. But gambling is not formally recognized by the American Psychological Association as an addiction and can't be treated under public mental health programs in our state. So what can be done for people who have this problem? We'll continue our look at Gambling in Great Falls tomorrow night (11/22).

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Dee said on Saturday, Nov 22 at 5:00 PM

I totally understand this woman. My marriage was destroyed by the gambling and lying. My ex was addicted before we got married and that pretty much ended his first marriage but I thought ours would be different. After our divorce he also lost his childhood home. Now he's living with a family member and who knows when he'll decide to grow up and get another place to live. His family members don't realize that they're probably supporting his need by letting him live there.

Kelly Parks Broker/Owner Great Falls Realty said on Saturday, Nov 22 at 5:04 AM

I personally believe that gambling and casinos in this town take away disposable income. Great Falls citizens are essentially lining the pockets of very few who do not contribute to Great Falls in any community driven way, but rather take the money and invest elsewhere. This does not help local merchants. It does not help our citizens become homeowners. When parent become homeowners rather then renters their children become better students in school. Casinos take and do not give back.

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