The month of March in New Jersey has been dedicated to problem gambling awareness. This is the best time for the bettors of the Garden State to refresh their knowledge on responsible gambling. Those who have not had time to find useful resources on the subject will be exposed to relevant tools and information on the subject.
Legal gambling in NJ is booming business and this makes it easy for problem gambling to go unnoticed. All gambling providers are therefore required to have help kits for players who are in need of rehabilitation from problem gambling. Brands offering lottery services, sports betting, online betting, race gambling and casino services must have programs to support their customers.
Part of the New Jersey state budget has been set aside to programs concerned with compulsive gambling. During the 2021-22 financial year, NJ spent an estimated $884,000 on education, problem gambling prevention campaigns and treatment.
According to reports published by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), 1 out of 20 Americans has experienced problem gambling in the course of their lives. Most of these cases go untreated leading to serious personal and societal issues. The high cases of Problem gambling that are reported out of New Jersey are a direct proportion of the long history of legalized gambling in the state.
What we cover
Problem Gambling Awareness
CCGNJ operates as a non-profit in the private sector and has been in business since AC’s casino scene was created. The organization has an open-door policy with the public and anyone with issues to raise with the council can do so by calling 1-800-GAMBLER 24/7. Alternative channels of communication have been provided on www.800gambler.org.
By visiting the website, users have access to information concerning 12-step meetings held at the local level, referrals for those who have been afflicted by gambling addiction, tools for supporting self-exclusion, as well as a quiz to ascertain existence and extent of problem gambling. The theme of CCGNJ for this year’s monthly awareness campaign is “Be Informed – Be Empowered.” The group will be focused on equipping people with the right tools and especially those that will help them to make informed and smart decisions about their gambling habits. This is the nature of education that people need to prevent falling or getting deeper into a gambling problem.
One of the core drivers of the mission of CCGNJ is to make the public aware that there is help for those who are struggling to control their gambling habits. Gambling problems affect more than an individual; it affects families leading many to a state of desperation. CCGNJ assures the families of gambling addicts that there is hope for them too.
Self-exclusion lists
Casinos and racetracks licensed by the state to operate in New Jersey have self-exclusion lists that people can join to control their gambling addiction. If this control option is preferred, the individual choose for gambling exclusion for one or five years. The nature of this exclusion is such that the name of the individual will not be allowed entry into sportsbooks and casinos until the exclusion period has elapsed.
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Some people have concerns about appearing in person to add their name to the gambling exclusion list. The state Division of Gaming Enforcement has provided a link on their website to cater to those who would like the process to be anonymous. This is not unusual because addiction in most cases is surrounded by a certain level of stigma which does not go away even after resolution.
Limit Setting Control
Another option for gambling addiction control which is available to the bettors of New Jersey is controlling the amount of money spent. Ideally, gambling wagers should be considered as funds used on leisure. This means that there should be no anticipation of the money coming back because it has already served its purpose.
The limit setting tools are available in most online casinos and sportsbooks in New Jersey. They are designed to moderate player activity in both physical gambling establishments and online gaming platforms. To play within certain limits, a player must first define their activity based on amount of time they spend on gambling or amount of money.
Approaching With Action and Awareness
It is now 20 years since the problem gambling awareness initiative started by the National Council on Problem Gambling. According to data by the NCPG, close to 2 million people in the United States are victims of gambling addiction. This translates into an estimated 1% of the entire population. An additional 4 million people in the same population are suspected to have some form of gaming disorder.
This year’s national commemoration of Problem Gambling Awareness is centered on the theme, “Awareness + Action.” This time around, the effort coincidentally falls within the same timeline as March Madness. This is usually a busy time for gamblers and sportsbook users in the US gambling market.
According to the executive director of NCPG, Keith Whyte, March Madness season is characterized by an increase in gambling activity. This means that there are people who participate in the tournaments for the wrong reasons – hence the need for more outreach. Since the mandate of the NCPG is to help those who are unable to control their gambling habits, such occasions provide the best platform for bringing to attention potential risks of gambling.
Conclusion
Although gambling starts as a leisure activity for many people, it can easily drift into addiction if not properly controlled. For those who have already slipped into addiction, external support from third party operator serves as the best help. Between options offered to gamblers such as education on the subject, exclusion from betting and limit setting, it appears that the greatest effort to self-redemption is personal input. Initiatives of all kinds can be launched but they will all be fruitless if the affected individual does not do anything to come out of it.
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