McCain will investigate "slots for tots"

[Gary Ruskin <gary@essential.org>]

Commercial Alert			December 12, 1999

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) announced on
December 10 that he will investigate slot machines that feature
child-enticing themes.  

Senator McCain's announcement came in a letter to Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) Chairman Robert Pitofsky, asking the FTC to help the
Senate Commerce Committee with the investigation of "slots for tots".

Recent news reports have revealed an alarming trend in the gambling
industry.  Slot machines are now featuring child-enticing themes
including Candyland, which is popular among very young children, other
board games such as Monopoly, as well as the Three Stooges, the Pink
Panther, South Park, I Dream of Jeannie, and the Addams Family. 

Senator McCain's letter was in response to a request from Commercial
Alert and many conservative and progressive organizations, religious
leaders and academics, asking the Senate and House Commerce Committees
to investigate "whether the gambling industry is luring impressionable
children to gambling or casinos by employing slot machines bearing
cartoon characters and other themes popular with children" and "to
review the broader efforts of the casinos and gambling industry to
market gambling to children."

Senator McCain deserves high praise for launching his investigation, and
defending children against corporations that would prey upon them.  You
might send Sen, McCain a note of thanks.  His email address is
<John_McCain@McCain.senate.gov>.

Senator McCain's letter follows.

December 10, 1999

The Honorable Robert Pitofsky
Chairman
Federal Trade Commission
6th and Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580

Dear Chairman Pitofsky:

	I was recently contacted by a diverse group of organizations and
individuals concerned about the use of slot machines featuring
child-enticing themes.  As Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, it
is my intention to fully investigate this matter and possibly hold
hearings.  As we review the use of these machines and their possible
impact on children, I would like for the Federal Trade Commission to
assist the Committee.

	Some slot machine companies are developing gaming devices that use
themes associated with children's television programs, animated
cartoons, books and games.  The new machines utilize images from popular
games and television shows as "The Pink Panther", "South Park", "Candy
Land", and "Monopoly."  I am deeply concerned that the use of these
images may negatively impact children.  

	Gambling among our nation's youth is a problem.  The National Gambling
Impact Study Commission reported that as many as 20 percent of
adolescents may already be experiencing gambling problems.  The
Commission concluded that the "prevalence of adolescent gambling is a
serious problem which demands a broad coalition of efforts."  Given the
nature of this problem, I question the propriety of companies using
child-based themes in an obviously adult industry.

	The Commission has experience with the use of child-based themes in the
advertising of adult products.  Therefore, I request that the Commission
assist the Committee as we review this matter and determine an
appropriate course of action.

	I have enclosed a copy of the letter I received for your review.  I
thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.  If you have any
questions please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely, 						

John McCain
Chairman
<-------------letter ends here----------->

The coalition letter to the Senate and House Commerce Committees asking
for the investigation of "slots for tots" is at
<http://www.essential.org/alert/gambling/slotsfortots.html>.

Commercial Alert's web page on gambling and children is at
<http://www.essential.org/alert/gambling/index.html>.

Commercial Alert was founded last year to oppose the excesses of
advertising, marketing and commercialism.  Commercial Alert's web
address is <http://www.essential.org/alert/>.

Commercial Alert's materials are distributed on the listserve
<commercial-alert@essential.org>. To subscribe to commercial-alert, go
to <http://www.essential.org/alert/listserv.html> or send an e-mail
message to <listproc@essential.org> with the following all in one line: 
subscribe commercial-alert <your name> (no period).

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY	
-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Ruskin | Commercial Alert 
1611 Connecticut Ave. NW Suite #3A | Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 296-2787 | Fax (202) 833-2406
http://www.essential.org/alert/ | mailto:gary@essential.org
--------------------------------------------------------------