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Commission hears public comment alleging harms from 'skills-based' games among people on parole
Summary
A community member told commissioners that people on parole or probation are spending paychecks on skills‑based gaming machines, leaving them short for essentials; staff said they are forming a work group and hope to include a business owner for industry perspective.
During public comment, a speaker described observing people on parole and probation use money on skills-based gaming machines and urged the county to include a business owner on a work group addressing the issue.
The commenter said Andrea Gregory, who had worked on provision and parole, reported seeing many people on her caseload spend paychecks on what the speaker called "skills-based games," leaving insufficient funds for childcare, food and rent. The speaker said the county is assembling a work group and is trying to add a business owner who could describe the industry perspective.
"She told me that she saw it quite often, actually. Especially with, and and and not just men, but a lot of men who were on her caseload. So they would get paid or whatever and then they would immediately go spend basically their paycheck at the bar, to take a drink at night feeding the skills based...games," the commenter said in public remarks.
Staff said they are recruiting a business‑sector representative for the work group and continue outreach to parole and probation staff. There was no formal action taken during the meeting; the comments were recorded during the public‑comment portion of the meeting and staff said the matter would be investigated further by the work group.
