In this episode of The Stories Behind the Bet, Las Vegas attorney Dayvid Figler discusses the history behind Nevada’s problem gambling diversion court. Whereas prison serves to punish convicted individuals, the diversion court rehabilitates them and works to treat their addiction.
Since passing the bar exam in 1991 at the age of 23, attorney Dayvid Figler has contributed to a number of high-profile cases in his hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada. The award-winning storyteller has now been practicing law for 28 years, and was instrumental in the creation of Nevada’s problem gambling diversion court, a system that holds problem gamblers accountable for their actions without sending them to prison.
Figler received the 2019 Medal of Justice for his considerable contributions to the Nevada justice system; beyond his involvement with the creation of the gambling diversion court, he also worked to expose District Attorney Office witness payments and actively advocates for homeless people throughout the city. He served as the President of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood and is a regular contributor to programming at the Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Figler currently writes for the Nevada Independent, covering topics including the death penalty and criminal justice reform in Nevada, the freedom of the press (release), and compensation for those wrongfully convicted of crimes.
SUMMARY
In this episode, the following topics are discussed:
0:14 – Dayvid Figler’s contributions to Nevada law
2:10 – Nevada’s decision to pass gambling diversion court legislation in 2009
3:07 – The first case to ever implement the gambling diversion court law, and the establishment of the court
4:21 – The parameters of eligibility for diversion (first case, violent vs. nonviolent crimes, current cases that could qualify)
8:46 – Support for social responsibility in the gaming industry
10:19 – Practical aspects of the diversion court
11:19 – The country’s interest in developing more gambling diversion systems
13:43 – How industry operators can support the program’s initiatives
15:50 – Why prison just doesn’t compare
16:50 – The end of the stigma around problem gambling addiction
17:50 – Hope for the future
NOTES
- Information on the NRS 458A Law
- Determining eligibility for Nevada’s problem gambling diversion court
- Information on diversion programming in Nevada
- Mental health professionals’ preference of diversion over prison sentencing
- How industry officials can make a financial difference today
- The Nevada Council on Problem Gambling
Learn more about episode guest Dayvid Figler via his website. You can also follow him on Twitter.
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Philip Beere
Philip is the Head of Creative and Partnerships at PJ Media. He is Head of Marketing for Gaming Analytics. Previously he was Head of Marketing for Sightline Payments and Play+. He is the Founder of the subscription-based marketing platform for doctors, www.rfamd.com.
As the Host of the No Line Podcast, Philip enjoys sharing stories about those leading the industry forward toward responsible gaming. He also hosts the podcasts, Corporate Sustainability and Doctor Thyroid.
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