The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has announced the annual observance of Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM), which falls in March.
Each year, PGAM is dedicated to increasing public understanding of problem gambling as a mental health issue, removing obstacles in the way of care, and encouraging conversations about the impact gambling can have on individuals, families, and communities.
Last year, the theme of the month was “Every Story Matters,” which focused on grassroots campaigns seeking to improve awareness of problem gambling and promote prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
This year, the announced theme is “Seeking Understanding”. According to the NCPG’s announcement, the aim is to “increase awareness of problem gambling as a serious yet often misunderstood mental health condition.”
In recent weeks the NCGP has already commented on the rise of VIP programs made accessible to Americans on sportsbook and casino platforms, citing them as a way to increase compulsive gambling tendencies in users, which counteracts claims made by operators that they do not lead to problem gambling.
What is problem gambling?
The NCPG defines problem gambling as “gambling behavior that is damaging to an individual, often disrupting daily life and career.” Elsewhere it might be referred to as “gambling addiction” or “gambling disorder,” but the different terms share the same outcome: significant social, financial, and emotional harm.
Despite the Super Bowl and the anticipated March Madness indicating growing popularity concerning gambling, the NCPG has stated that problem gambling remains an “overlooked public health concern that affects millions of Americans.”
According to the organization’s statistics, nearly 2.5 million adult Americans struggle with severe problem gambling, while a further 5–8 million experience mild or moderate problem gambling.
“Problem gambling is often described as a ‘hidden addiction,’ and with an estimated 9 million Americans affected, the need for awareness and support has never been greater. By fostering a deeper understanding of the issue, we can encourage empathy, reduce barriers to treatment, and provide support to those affected by gambling-related harm,” said Cait Huble, the Director of Communications of the NCPG.
How will the PGAM be marked?
Through March, various organizations are expected to make themselves more readily available locally and nationally by organizing events, offering educational workshops, and engaging in local advocacy to increase public awareness of problem gambling and to encourage healthcare providers to check clients for problem gambling.
The NCPG has already composed an events calendar for the period, consisting of problem-screening events hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln City Campus, talks about various industries’ perceptions of problem gambling, and the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey’s Problem Gambling Symposium, to mention a few.
Elsewhere, the Ohio Gambling Telehealth Network (OGTN) is already preparing for an increase in calls during the period of the NCAA Basketball Tournament and have put out announcements of their available services.
