Problem Gambling Awareness Month
Annual public awareness campaign shares reasons and resources to address issue
WASHINGTON, DC - According to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), approximately two million adults in the U.S. (1% of the population), experience severe problem gambling. To help address this concern, the DC Lottery is continuing its partnership with NCPG to amplify awareness that prevention, treatment, and recovery services are available.
Problem gambling is defined as, all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt, or damage personal, family, or vocational pursuits. Now, in its 19th year, National Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM) brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including public health organizations, treatment providers, advocacy groups, and gambling operators to inform audiences that hope and help exist.
“Gaming entertainment options are growing in and around the District. We recognize the potential risks of problem gambling and its impact on the lives of individuals and families,” says Marketing and Communications Director Nicole Jordan. DC Lottery is committed to making sure players understand what the signs of problem gambling are, and most importantly, the resources that are available to get help.”
The National Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-522-4700 is confidential, operates 24-hours, and connects callers with programs and counselors. A problem gambling screening tool helps assess whether formal evaluation is needed. An online gambling recovery program is also available. Locally, the DC Lottery offers a self-exclusion option as a safeguard for players experiencing problem gambling. The agency is a returning participant in the 2022 Responsible Gambling Verification Program. A joint effort of NCPG and the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, the program connects lotteries with resources and problem gambling experts to strengthen programs that recognize, address, and ultimately avoid the dangers of problem gambling.
Awareness + Action,” is the 2022 theme for National Problem Gambling Awareness Month. The official hashtag of this year’s campaign is #PGAM2022. Participants in the virtual conversation are encouraged to use this identifier across social media platforms.
Since its inception in 1982, the DC Lottery has awarded more than $3.8 billion in prizes, transferred more than $2.14 billion to the District's General Fund which supports essential services in the District, and has helped local nonprofits raise more than $134 million in support of social causes.