Problem gamblers relatively rare

BANGOR – The manager of Hollywood Slots at Bangor estimated Thursday that one out of every 100 customers has a problem with gambling.

During a talk at Husson College, Jon Johnson, general manager of Hollywood Slots, responded to two questions about gambling addiction. Most of the questions at the talk were about the economic impact of Hollywood Slots.

Like many other gambling facilities, Hollywood Slots allows customers who think they may be gambling too frequently to enroll in a “self-exclusion program,” Johnson said. Customers may give the facility’s security staff their names and photographs and ask to be denied entry. The list is shown only to Hollywood Slots staff, and if someone on the list is spotted, staff members discreetly and politely ask him or her to leave, Johnson said.

In the 17 months Hollywood Slots has been open, 56 people have self-excluded, the Bangor Daily News reported Wednesday.

Johnson said some people who have enrolled in the self-exclusion program have shown up at Hollywood Slots in disguise, wearing wigs and glasses, in an effort to thwart the security system.

“It’s sad,” Johnson said. “We really do want to help them.”