Pittsburgh's new slot machine casino had the third busiest opening day of any of Pennsylvania's new gambling halls. Officials say gamblers wagered about $14 million , or some $216 per second , in the first 18 hours the Rivers Casino was open. It opened for business at noon Sunday
Philadelphia Inquirer
Gambling may look like harmless entertainment, but it can easily become an addiction equal to any alcohol or drug addiction. Some relevant statistics include:
Problem gambling doubles within 10 miles of a gambling facility, according to a study published in 2004, which included a nationwide survey of 2,631 adults.
Survey results have shown that 23 percent of Allegheny County residents have a friend or family member who gambled too much in the past year, and that 25 percent of Pennsylvania high schoolers gamble.