European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 20, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                More than 8 billion coins a year Are dropped into military Slot machines. A amps Lynda Davidson coins by Chuck Roberts staff writer a a jew t1 a a 1 it i 1 in Voitl in the time it takes to read this sentence 1,400 quarters and 1,300 Nickels will drop into . Military Slot machines in Europe. In the time it takes to drink a cup of Coffee the numbers will swell to 118,000 quarters and 112,000 Nickels. In a typical Day the levers on those Slot machines May be pulled 13 million times. In a year try 4.8 billion coins. Most of those Nickels and quarters will be returned to the players but by no Means All of them. In 1989 the army Navy and air Force reported Slot machine and video poker revenues of nearly $108 million. Most of that a $60.6 million a came from Europe. To generate that worldwide income players had to drop $1.35 billion into the military Slot machines. About $757 million of that action. Occurred on military installations in Europe and Turkey. Slot machines Are the major component of military gambling operations but not the Only part. Casino style gambling and High stakes Bingo Are frequent events throughout the military club system in Europe especially on army installations. The Monte Carlo nights Are not Penny Ante operations. It is possible to win a or lose a thousands of dollars in an evening. It is unclear How much Money is spent at these events or How much the military keeps. The army in Europe has refused to answer specific questions from the stars and stripes about Bingo or Casino night revenues. In response to a Federal Freedom of information act request seeking detailed information on both forms of gambling officials would say Only that the army had profits of about $200,000 to $250,000 a year from Bingo in Europe. The army would not provide data about total Slot machine revenues army of and Navy total Slot machine revenues in millions of dollars gambling in the military i /21 profits Dow problems Day 1, the problem a Day 2, the Money Day 3, the illness a amps Sharon Kilday revenues or expenses. The army Community family support Agency which oversees the club system in Europe also refused to divulge information about total Revenue sources for the club system data that would have included gambling revenues. The air Force in Europe reported Bingo revenues of $2.6 million and profits of $260,000, most of which comes from the Sale of Bingo cards at club events. The air Force like the army said information about Casino night revenues was unavailable. Nevertheless some estimates Are possible. In the army and air Force each club is entitled to conduct four Casino Type events each year. There Are More than 300 military clubs in Europe but not All conduct these gambling events. Casino night managers say that a typical event will Gross about $3,000 a night. Thus if half the clubs hold just two events a year it is Likely that players Are losing about $900,000 annually year. Casino gambling and Bingo almost certainly push the military a gambling revenues Over the $62 million Mark in Europe and to More than $110 million at All overseas locations. None of the Money is spent on counselling or rehabilitation programs for compulsive gamblers. The Pentagon concluded in 1988 that there is not a significant gambling problem in the services mental health experts disagree citing research that shows that about 3 percent of american adults Are compulsive gamblers. Thus As Many As 18,000 americans in Europe could suffer from compulsive gambling which the american psychiatric association classifies As a mental illness. The services generally funnel Slot machine profits to the morale welfare and recreation system with some minor variations. In the army 10 percent of Slot machine revenues Are kept by the club where the Slot machines Are located. This is intended to cover the Quot custodial costs Quot of the machines. The remainder is split three ways a third is kept by the military Community for mar a third goes to the major command such As Usa eur for the same purpose and the final third goes to the department of the army for major construction projects. In recent years the Pentagon has used its share for such projects As the $50 million dragon Hill Lodge in Seoul Korea a guest lodging facility for soldiers and their families. Also $22 million was spent on mar facilities at fort drum n.y., for the new division stationed there. The air Force allocates 37 percent of the profits to mar programs at the local base 38 percent to the major command for sports programs the tops in Blue entertainment team and similar programs and 25 percent to the department of the air Force to build new open messes. In the Navy 75 percent is retained by the local command for mar programs. The remainder is sent to the naval military personnel command for personnel costs and major construction projects such As Day care centers and new clubs. These gambling profits Are vital to the military recreation programs. Only the Exchange service at about $120 million a year accounts for More mar spending. Tuesday november 20, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 13