New bill seeks to prevent and treat gambling problems among service members According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, an estimated 56,000 active duty service members may meet the criteria for gambling disorder. In 2018 alone, military members lost $100 million on 3,000 slot machines at overseas bases. The prevalence of gambling disorder in the military is a serious health issue – and poses a clear national security concern. In response to the issue, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) reintroduced the bipartisan Gambling Prevention Act of 2019 in t ..read more

How schools can help address underage gambling This back-to-school season, one of the most important lessons we all can learn is that underage gambling presents real risks for our youth. From video games to sporting events, young people are bombarded with gambling-related behaviors every single day. Studies have shown that the earlier people are introduced to gambling, the more likely they are to become problem gamblers as adults. Schools have an important role to play in reducing the risks of youth gambling. By establishing rules and regulations that prevent gambling behaviors, school p ..read more

Ohio’s Problem Gambling Helpline Helping people from all walks of life Problem gambling affects all different kinds of people. Ohio’s Problem Gambling Helpline is a place that all of them can turn to in times of need. Counselors are standing by 24/7 to guide people to resources they need to help address issues related to problem gambling. Since 2015, the helpline has received more than 5,000 calls per year. If you or someone you know is struggling with problem gambling, you don’t have to feel like you’re in it alone. The numbers show that every day, people from around the state are g ..read more

Gaming & Gambling A problem that’s officially being addressed. The World Health Organization works with 194 countries to help build a better, healthier future. Recently, at the 72nd World Health Assembly, they made an announcement officially recognizing “gaming disorder” as a disease that affects the lives of people around the world. Read more about the announcement and what it means for the future of problem gambling treatment here ..read more

Can Banks Help Gamblers Gain Control? There’s an app for that. It’s no secret that the internet has opened up almost limitless opportunities to gamble. That instant access can lead to major problems for vulnerable people. While many might see it as an inevitable cost of the convenience of smart phones, some banks are taking promising steps toward protecting problem gamblers. Banking giant Barclays and two mobile-only United Kingdom banks, Monzo and Starling currently give customers the option of blocking themselves from online gambling. The concept is simple. Payments from the users a ..read more

It’s not just a harmless hobby Gambling’s impact on youth A lot of research and work has gone into addressing gambling-related problems among adults. But more and more communities around the world are looking at the real dangers facing young people exposed to gambling behaviors at an early age. Young people are being exposed to gambling more than ever before. The driving force is almost universal access to the internet. Many online games have allowed gambling-type behaviors to creep into the lives of children in a way that has gone unnoticed until recent years. Features like loot boxe ..read more

From lotteries to casinos to racinos, gambling is a sizable part of Ohio’s entertainment landscape. For most people, it provides an opportunity for harmless fun. But, for some, gambling can result in serious consequences. That’s why it’s so important to spread public awareness of responsible gambling practices. Get Set Before You Bet is an initiative to educate those who do gamble on how to do so safely – as well as where to find help for those who need it. On our website, you can find tips, information and community toolkits designed to help everyone in Ohio avoid the dangers of problem ga ..read more

Living near casinos/racinos ups the rate of gambling problems. It’s been a number of years since voters approved measures to allow casinos in Ohio. Advocates projected that the move would generate big revenue for the state. Since then, 4 casinos and 7 legislature-approved racinos have opened, but one new study shows that those casinos/racinos also come with big risks for people living near them. Read the article below to learn more. https://www.godanriver.com/townnews/economics/a-study-shows-those-living-within-miles-of-a-casino/article_350e97f8-75d0-11e9-b907-63b26deb40c4.html ..read more

Missouri Senator proposing national legislation to ban “Loot Boxes.” In recent years, the video game industry has become increasingly dependent on monetization models that promote compulsive purchases by consumers. One of the most common examples of this are Loot Boxes – which have been incorporated in both free and paid video games and offer players randomized rewards in exchange for money. Loot Boxes combine the addictive properties of pay-to-win with the compulsive behaviors inherent to other forms of gambling – and the games that they’re featured in are often primarily targeted ..read more

Why Men May Be More at Risk. According to a study that compared problem gambling rates between men and women, reported instances of gambling weren’t all that different. There was, however, a wide rift when it came to who met the criteria for being considered gambling addicts. Only 2.9% of women were found to be problem gamblers – compared to 4.9% of men. That’s a significant difference between genders – and the numbers are even more extreme among college-age students, the demographic that gambles the most. In that population, problem gambling rates were 3% for women and 14% for men ..read more