NAADGS supports and promotes March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Problem Gambling Awareness Month was established in March 2003, originally as Problem Gambling Awareness Week (PGAW). With the Super Bowl in mid-February, followed by March Madness collegiate basketball play-offs in March, calls for help to gambling resource centers spiked in March.
According to ESPN (https://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/35607249/survey-record-504-million-adults-bet-16b-super-bowl) , a record 50.4 million adults bet $16 billion on the February 2023 Superbowl. Several states have legalized sports betting since last year’s Superbowl, increasing the number of states that have operational sports betting to 36 and the District of Columbia. March Madness betting on collegiate basketball will undoubtedly also top last years’ wagering, in part because four additional states have instituted legalized sports betting since last year’s event.
But Problem Gambling Awareness Month is not just about sports betting, but about helping people.
Its goals are:
- To increase public awareness about gambling disorders.
- To encourage health care providers to screen clients for gambling problems.
Those that are being affected by gambling disorders do not always know that help is available, and they do not know where to look for such help. State and local agencies, grass roots movements, advocacy groups, health agencies, and gaming operators work together to get the word out to those who need it. Problem Gambling Awareness Month affords opportunities to increase awareness as well as screening in our communities with a broad range of activities.
NAADGS members support Problem Gambling Awareness Month through facilitating awareness and screening activities with their community and state partners and promoting PGAM within their respective state systems. One state ran a banner across the bottom of state employee paychecks during the month of March in support of PGAM. Many NAADGS members plan large outreach campaigns during the month, organizing Problem Gambling Screening Days in myriad locations, including health clinics, gaming venues, behavioral health services, and other places to increase awareness of services for gambling disorders as well as to offer screening and help resources.
If you or someone you know needs help because of a gambling disorder, each state has state problem gambling programs listed here: https://naadgs.org/state-services/
Anyone. Anytime. From anywhere (in the US): 1-800-GAMBLER