National Council on Problem Gambling’s Post

🔔 Pennsylvania is kicking off National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, spotlighting the rising concern as the state's gambling revenue hit $5.7B in 2023... With call volumes tripling since 2019, the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania stresses the urgent need for support. The state is offering 24-hour support lines, responsible gaming tools, and educational events. Spread the word about #problemgambling resources and help address and mitigate #gamblingaddiction impacts. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gJAZWnqx #gamblingharm #MarchMadness #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

https://lnkd.in/eiebvDXT #ProblemGambling is real. Powerful report. Aftermath can require #suicideprevention We all need to be better informed. Report notes that gambling hotline callers are getting younger & younger.

In light of the annual Safer Gambling Week commencing today, I am honoured to stand with the @National Betting Authority of Cyprus in promoting the 6th annual Safer Gambling Week. In this article, we'll delve into the significance of the slogan "Safer Gambling Worldwide" which embodies a compelling message that champions responsible gambling practices with a sincere and positive approach. Together, we champion responsible gaming and player well-being. Let's make gambling safe and enjoyable for all.  #SaferGambling #GamblingAwareness #GamblingAddiction #GamblingPrevention #GamblingReform #GamblingResponsibly #CompassionateCallToAction

#Gluecksspiel (GGL) 🎰, the Federal Authority of German Gambling, will host its first “joint exchange meeting of state coordinators” in Halle 🤝. The meeting will convene representatives from Germany’s 16 Federal States (Bundesländer) 🇩🇪. They will share their specific experiences and challenges in prevention work in the online gambling sector since the inception of the Fourth Interstate Gambling regime (GlüNeuRStv) on 1 July 2021 📅. GGL Co-President Ronald Benter 🙌 explained: “We have achieved this goal 🏆. After an initial board meeting last year 📅, a personal meeting took place between the state coordinators and other GGL representatives from various specialist departments 🤝, providing us with crucial insights for future cooperation 🤝.” At the start of 2023, GGL assumed governance over Germany’s new gambling marketplace 🚀. It prioritized the implementation of new safer gambling protections and safeguards against unlicensed activities 🛡️. #GGL #Gluneurstv #StakeholdersMeeting #Regulation #LotteryNews #OnlineGaming #PlayerProtection #GamingIndustry #Lotto #GamingRegulations #LotteryUpdates #GamingCommunity #GamingDiscussion #IndustryInsights #GamingProtection #GamingMeeting #LotterySafety #GamingTalk #StakeholderEngagement #LotteryDaily Read More⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eQvg_-k7

New data reveals that 88% of individuals receiving treatment through the National Gambling Treatment Service (NTGT) have seen positive results. 📊 The National Gambling Helpline is making a real impact, with a quick 50% response rate within 5 days. 📞 The surge in preventative support inquiries in 2023, up 46% from 2022, highlights the growing awareness of the importance of seeking help early. 👏 GambleAware is optimistic about the potential statutory levy on gambling operators, offering a financial boost to support crucial services. To find out more, follow the link here ➡ https://lnkd.in/dsm8CnbN #iGaming #responsiblegambling #gamblingindustry #prevention

The statistic of 50 million social media impressions for Safer Gambling Week is highly significant, particularly with a 70% increase from the previous year. This achievement highlights several key points: 1. **Wide Reach and Impact**: Generating 50 million impressions demonstrates the event's extensive reach and impact on social media platforms. This level of engagement indicates a strong public interest or awareness in the topic of safer gambling and problem gambling prevention. 2. **Effectiveness of Awareness Campaigns**: The substantial increase from last year suggests that the strategies employed for raising awareness were highly effective. It reflects the success of the campaign in capturing public attention and spreading its message. 3. **Role of Social Media in Public Awareness**: The use of platforms like Facebook and Instagram shows the power of social media in disseminating important information and engaging with a broad audience. These platforms can play a crucial role in public health and awareness campaigns. 4. **Growing Awareness of Problem Gambling**: The increase in impressions may also indicate a growing awareness and concern about problem gambling. It suggests that more people are becoming interested in learning about harm reduction and responsible gambling practices. 5. **Foundation for Future Initiatives**: This success sets a positive precedent for future initiatives. It can provide insights and strategies for other campaigns aiming to promote public health and safety. Overall, the significant social media impact of Safer Gambling Week underscores the importance and effectiveness of such awareness campaigns in addressing public health issues like problem gambling.

Early Signs You're on a Path to Excessive Gambling

Addiction Economy Thought for Today - when is it you, not them? (our controversial strapline being 'it's not you, it's them'!) Here the Economic Model of Addiction alive and well in this gambling article in the Wall Street Journal concluding: "Online gambling isn’t the first addictive product to hit the market, and it won’t be the last. Casinos today are following the same playbook as tobacco and alcohol companies decades ago: profit from Americans’ vices, insist on self-regulation, advocate personal responsibility and fend off oversight by supporting and pressuring politicians." They could have read our White Paper, it's so perfect a mapping! 'Responsible Gambling' ideas don't work, particularly when companies sign up to them & ignore them. Examples of Caeser's Casino here fined $13 million for their treatment of 'VIPS' (people who lose a lot). Including a guy who put himself on a banned list for on and offline gambling, but was allowed to lose $240k and a self-employed nanny allowed to lose £18,000 in a year, after she told them she “spent her savings and was borrowing from family and using her overdraft to gamble.” What does my White Paper on the 5 models say: THE MORAL MODEL OF ADDICTION: (a new 5th model coming soon!) - it is totally their own fault and their responsibility. They are so weak or ignorant they even know it's harming them and they just carry on - they deserve everything they get. THE BIOLOGICAL MODEL: - there's something wrong with their brain, they need to be cured of this terrible disease, we can give them some drugs to help with this obvious disorder of the mind. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MODEL: - they have an addictive personality and deeply rooted psychological self-regulation issues. We have to get to the bottom of why they continue to do this. THE SOCIAL MODEL : - there are external cultural or personal external influences shaping their behaviour which need to be identified and addressed. THE ECONOMIC MODEL: - companies have engineered addictive products, environments and incentives which specifically identify and target vulnerable individuals. This should be prevented, the organisations, punished and the ways they undermine the individual's ability to constrain their use discontinued. Not done this before & think it works quite well & show's the value of the distinctions, which are serious academic models - except the Economic which we just invented! My conclusion using these models is: 1. Prioritise the restrictions to the economic model 2. With un-addiction, take a respectful and empathetic approach to individual circumstances which seeks to understand, explore and respond to the social, psychological, biological and economic drivers 3. Ditch the moralising, it's wrong & unhelpful. Thanks again to Jonathan Andrew, PhD for bailing me out on a Friday with this helpful article! https://lnkd.in/e6rzNbgQ

In regards to his company's role in preventing gambling addiction, the CEO of DraftKings recently said that "people who have gambling issues, they’re going to have a gambling issue," "there is some onus on the individual in these situations," and "the job is to help identify those people and get them the help and get them to understand they need help. … It has to be on them to decide that they want to change that behavior.” Do you agree with this stance? Personally, I don't - I think DraftKings and other gambling entities are absolutely responsible for having protections in place to prevent people from using their services in clearly self-destructive ways. These companies (particularly those online-based vs brick-and-mortar) have all the data they need to know *exactly* who is engaged in unhealthy gambling behavior, and could step in to stop that behavior if they wanted to do so. This approach wouldn't fly for any other type of addiction: imagine if common practice for bartenders was to keep serving people no matter what, even if the patron was clearly vomiting in the restroom or actively passing out in their seat. They wouldn't - they cut people off when it's clear they're harming themselves. Gambling corporations, at bare minimum, should do the same. And if they don't feel responsible to do this, that's where we must step in and put regulations in place to protect the public. For more of my thoughts on how we need to stop systematically overlooking gambling problems, please also see my recent Psychology Today blog: https://lnkd.in/g_Cd826y #gambling #problemgambling #gamblingaddiction #addiction https://lnkd.in/gZ6EHVzq