The board members of the Safe Foundation have fielded inquiries in regard to SAFE’s thoughts on the proposed Gambling Casino license being sought for Coney Island.

First off, it should be noted that the Safe Foundation, an OASAS licensed outpatient clinic treating addiction, alcoholism, and problem gambling, is committed to educating the community on the dangers of addiction, and to treating those suffering from the disease of addiction, including problem gambling.

Problem gambling, or gambling addiction, includes all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt or damage personal, family or vocational pursuits. The symptoms include an ever-increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, “chasing” losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences. In extreme
cases, problem gambling can result in financial ruin, legal problems, loss of career and family, or even suicide.

Safe neither condemns nor condones an individual’s decision to consume alcohol, legally obtained marijuana products, or gamble in a legal and responsible fashion. Casino gambling has been legalized in both the states of New York and New Jersey, and casino gambling as a form of entertainment, when undertaken in a legal forum, by adults over the legal age permissible to do so (currently 21), and in a controlled and responsible manner need not be avoided. However, saying that something is legal is not tantamount to saying that it is not potentially harmful.

Research from the University at Buffalo’s Research Institute on Addictions (RIA), has shown that, “a casino within 10 miles of home has a significant effect on problem gambling and is associated with a 90 percent increase in the odds of being a pathological or problem gambler.”

Furthermore, The Asian Journal of Gambling Issues and Public Health published a study which conducted a systematic review of research on the effects of casino proximity. According to the article, eight cross-sectional studies of locations in North America were conducted. Correlations with statistical significance were demonstrated in five of the eight studies,
indicating that casino proximity does play a role in problem gambling to some degree.

We understand that opportunities to gamble are everywhere, including the pocket of anyone who owns a mobile phone or device with internet access. And unfortunately, even the denial of a gambling license in Coney Island is not going to make the incidences of problem gambling magically disappear.

Clinically, here are the internal numbers we are seeing at Safe:
In 2019, 6% of our clinical assessments were for problem gambling.
In 2022, the year New York first legalized online sports betting, that figure more than doubled to 13%.
In 2024, 23% of clinical assessments at Safe have been for problem gambling. That is the single largest category of clients assessed at Safe.

In sum, there is no question that incidences of problem gambling within our community are on the rise. Research cited above has shown that there is a direct relationship between casino proximity and problem gambling, with the researcher stating that availability of an attractive gambling opportunity can lead to gambling pathology in some people who otherwise would not develop it. As such there is great concern that a gambling casino located a mere 2 miles from our neighborhood may lead to an even greater increase in problem gambling. These concerns lead the board of the Safe Foundation to strongly recommend against the awarding of a gaming license and the resultant establishment of a gambling casino in Coney Island in such close proximity to the South Brooklyn community that we dutifully serve.

If you or someone you love has a gambling problem, please call (718) GET-SAFE for a confidential discussion.

Thank you

The Board of Directors
The Safe Foundation, Inc.