March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month! Posted On
What is Problem Gambling Awareness Month?
Problem Gambling Awareness Month is a time to pay special attention to the issues around problem gambling, and ways to get help for those who are suffering from the effects of problem gambling. Problem gambling affects everyone; from the person who struggles with problem gambling, to their families who wish to help, to their community who pays taxes and other forms of financial assistance to help the person struggling with the mental health issue of problem gambling. Problem gambling is blind to race, ethnicity, age, gender, or any other way we try to categorize people. Gambling can change, from a form of leisure or entertainment to an addiction, at any age and for any person.
The 2016 Problem Gambling Awareness Month mantra is “Continue the Conversation.” It is important to talk about problem gambling to raise awareness, and to take away the stigma of problem gambling, so those suffering from their addiction, or struggling with the effects of a loved one’s addiction, can feel more comfortable getting the help they may need.
Call To Action
We challenge you to start the conversation of problem gambling this month with someone you know. Everyone can help raise awareness. You don’t need to be an addiction professional to participate.
- If you’re on social media, pay attention to the messages around problem gambling awareness and share these messages with your network of friends and family, and follow the conversation at #HaveTheConvo.
- Raising awareness could be a conversation starter, such as, “Hi. I don’t know if you’re aware, but this is problem gambling awareness month. What are you doing to help?” someone you know may have a gambling problem that you’re unaware of. You may be thinking about helping strangers, and you could, accidentally, help someone you love.
Talking Points
You may want to have some things to speak about as you bring up Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Some things to keep in mind would be:
- 60% of people have gambled in the last year.
- People struggling with problem gambling may feel alone.
- Different forms of gambling include visiting casinos or race tracks, or participating in lotteries, scratch offs, and 50/50 raffles.
These points could be great conversation starters and help bring people into the conversation to raise awareness about problem gambling, and how to get help to those in need.
Resources
If you’d like to learn more about problem gambling, check out our eBook titled Understanding Problem Gambling. This eBook is free to download and offers a great overview of problem gambling. If you’re looking for more information, or support, please feel free to visit the Find Help page. And, as always, you can call the NYS HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY for support and resources any day, any time.
http://www.onlinegamblingaddiction.net
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appmakr.onlinegamblingaddiction
App helps user to get barred from gambling websites via email- very simple contact each one for MEDICAL self exclusion to be both barred from site and ENTIRE GAMING NETWORK… a medical self exclusion cannot be undone.
The ‘barred gambling online app’ was created 16th Jan 2016 and has over 2000 downloads… create physical barriers of prevention, limit access to money, keep money in credit union, use the service to get barred/self excluded from gambling websites by emailing over 400 gambling sites to request self exclusion.
I believe there is no medical screening at all for people with mental problems before they gamble on the internet and the government is doing very little to help prevent the most vulnerable who have a problem. Gambling addiction is a physical illness and I believe does contribute to relative poverty so I think there should be some sort of system to get universally barred or get gambling sites barred from operating in countries especially if they are from unregulated countries such as costa rica or curacao, or russian fake sites with pirated gaming.
My App is hopefully a tool for information and support, to help those with gambling problem to take control over their lives, help them get back quality of life. Anyone who has a problem, families, underage teenagers… can get in touch for support… the service is to help and give advice and anyone concerned can get in touch on main site or via App on Google Play Store.
Gambling Addiction is not taught at schools, when drugs and alcohol are being taught awareness, but gambling is a hidden taboo.
I think we need to educate the next generation and help them avoid these problems, ultimately improve the economy and reduce gambling addiction.