MassGaming observes March 2014 as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month
- March 04, 2014
- by MGC Communications
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The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is working closely with its partners in service provision, healthcare and advocacy to recognize March 2014 as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month. National Problem Gambling Awareness Month (NPGAM) is a grassroots campaign established to raise awareness to issues associated with problem gambling and highlight the national and local resources available to provide individuals and families with support.
MassGaming’s Director of Research and Problem Gambling Mark Vander Linden said, “The Massachusetts Expanded Gaming Act established detailed and thoughtful statutory requirements to address and mitigate problem gambling and other social concerns. Our steadfast efforts to implement and expand upon the law to meet those requirements happen day in and day out, all year long. This annual nation-wide outreach program is an opportunity to highlight those efforts and raise awareness of this important and potentially devastating issue. “
In observance of the month-long awareness program, MassGaming will highlight a number of responsible gaming strategies and lend support and promotion to local healthcare and advocacy efforts also underway.
MassGaming initiatives for NPGAM include:
A robust research and responsible gaming agenda at MassGaming’s March 6th public meeting to include:
- Director Vander Linden will introduce MGC’s comprehensive responsible gaming framework to mitigate problem gambling and promote responsible gaming in Massachusetts licensed gaming establishments
- The Commission is expected to vote on self-exclusion regulations
- The Commission will host partners Debi LaPlante of the Harvard Division of Addiction and Marlene Warner, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Compulsive Gambling
- Director Vander Linden will provide a briefing on MassGaming’s cornerstone research project (SEIGMA) to gather data on the social and economic impacts of expanded gaming in the Commonwealth
In addition, MassGaming supports the Cambridge Health Alliance’s ‘Gambling Disorder Screening Day’. On March 11, 2014, the Cambridge Health Alliance’s Division on Addiction and Outpatient Addiction Services are launching a Gambling Disorder Screening Day as part of the Cambridge Health Alliance Readiness for Gambling Expansion (CHARGE) Initiative. The Division is helping the Cambridge Health Alliance launch a pilot screening program at its Outpatient Addiction Service, Somerville, Massachusetts, as well as other organizations in Massachusetts and across the nation. For more information, please visit this website.