Since 1988, the FCCG has been operating its 24-hour HelpLine, providing supportive intervention, factual information on problem gambling, its effects and help-seeking strategies; assistance and emotional support; and referrals to Agency certified treatment providers. Today, this multi-lingual service offers resource information including, but not limited to self-help support groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon; referrals to financial counselors and legal advisors trained to help problem gamblers and their families; a Peer Connect program; soft transfers and other avenues.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What's New?
Toolkits & Publications
Articles of Interest
Research
The year 2008 has been monumental and inspirational for the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG). In March, the Agency celebrated its 20th anniversary in providing diverse supports to thousands of compulsive gamblers, their families and others. It also celebrated a multitude of service offerings to professionals from varying backgrounds who furnish assistance to persons in need of help for a gambling problem.
2008 will also mark an historical effort between the FCCG and the Florida Certification Board (FCB), which will soon result in the unveiling of Florida’s very own credential for a Gambling Addiction Counselor. This add-on credential for licensed mental health and certified addiction professionals will expand much needed services statewide. The FCB will soon be issuing the standards for certification, as well as for the grandfathering process for professionals currently serving in the field.
In addition, thus far in 2008, the FCCG launched its new and easy to navigate web site (www.gamblinghelp.org), featuring all of the organization’s programs, services and publications, including those most recently developed. Some highlights follow.
Diagnosis: Pathological Gambling includes a mini-DVD, which contains a powerful introductory 10-minute video, a comprehensive medical guide with screening and assessment tools, and collateral materials for patients, specifically designed for doctors and other medical professionals. READ MORE
Combat Gambling Addiction offers awareness for active and retired military personnel and their families. Complete with a guide for military healthcare professionals, the toolkit furnishes educational materials, publications and collateral items. READ MORE
When Gambling Is No Longer a Game is a two-sided placard in English and Chinese that addresses problem gambling impacts among the Asian population and provides information about FCCG resources and referrals. READ MORE
Students Against Gambling Addiction (SAGA) aids colleges and universities in developing campus-wide programs and provides faculty and student training materials. READ MORE
Underage Gambling…It’s Not a Game, better known as the PTAtoolkit, outlines tangible tools for parents, teachers, counselors and students, and furnishes insight and factual information about youth gambling and associated impacts. In addition to the state-approved curriculum for middle and high school students, the toolkit is complete with interactive games, videos and other training materials. READ MORE
My £30K op to break gambling habit: A compulsive gambler may be suing the manufacturer of a prescription drug he claims caused his addiction, which resulted in his need for brain surgery to cure him from gambling. READ MORE
Homeless man accused of swindling 13 women: A homeless man posing as a millionaire is accused of taking more than $100,000 from his victims, all the while using the money to fuel his gambling addiction. READ MORE
Norway adopts strict rules on video gambling machines to protect compulsive players: To help compulsive gamblers, Norway has initiated limitations to decrease player problems. Reported calls to a national gambling help line have since dropped for those seeking help. READ MORE
Research links gambling with chemicals in brain: Growing scientific evidence reveals that gambling hijacks the brain by triggering a chemical reaction similar to cocaine. A case in point cited is where three armed men robbed a casino in South Africa. While ordering customers to lie on the floor to be relieved of wallets, winnings and cell phones, the pathological gamblers, while lying on the floor, were reaching up and playing the slot machines – bearing in mind, that anything won was not going to be taken home. READ MORE
Reputation and money: New insights into how the brain processes social, economic reward: Researchers recently found new information revealing how the brain processes complex social behaviors – such as reward or praise. Study claims, that monetary or reputational rewards are part of everyday behaviors for compulsive gamblers. READ MORE
Estimated 750,000 problem gamblers among America’s youth: New research in the U.S. suggests that youth, ages 14 to 21, are at an increased risk of developing a gambling problem. The survey’s special focus was on different ethnicities and gender. READ MORE
