[IMAGE] This Sunday’s Perfect Storm

This Sunday’s Perfect Storm

On Sunday, February 2, 2020, sports betting’s perfect storm will touch down at approximately 6:30p (EST). An estimated record 26 million American adults – that’s more than one-in-ten – will bet on the big game. According to the latest survey by The American Gaming Association (AGA), the amount of money that will be wagered on…read more

[IMAGE] National Hobby Month Please, Play Responsibly

National Hobby Month: Please, Play Responsibly

Hobbies are essential for a healthy and well-rounded life. They provide us a much-needed opportunity to leave behind the stress of daily life and fill us with a sense of joy and relaxation. From extreme sports to drawing comics, types of hobbies are as diverse as the people that engage in them.   As a…read more

[IMG] Making the Rose Bowl Your New Year’s Day Tradition

Making the Rose Bowl Your New Year’s Day Tradition

There are countless New Year’s traditions from champagne toasts to watching the ball drop. For many Americans, New Year’s Day means settling down on the couch with friends and family to enjoy the Rose Bowl. This New Year’s tradition is increasing in popularity each year, with the 2019 game drawing in a record audience of more…read more

[IMAGE] Lottery Tickets as Holiday Gifts for Minors? Know the Risks!

Lottery Tickets as Holiday Gifts for Minors? Know the Risks!

Today, the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) joined forces with the National Council on Problem Gambling and the International Center for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University, to urge parents and others to take the time to select meaningful holiday gifts and stocking stuffers for kids, versus buying unsuitable, quick-fix gifts,…read more

[IMAGE] Food for Thought on #GivingTuesday

Food for Thought on #GivingTuesday

The holiday season is upon us. What better way to commemorate the closing of a decade, and herald in the new, than to seriously take a look at what it means to give during the “Season of Giving?” With the commercialization of the upcoming worldwide celebrations, it can be easy to assume that the spirit of generosity…read more

[IMAGE] Turkey, Stuffing, and Hopefully Not Sports Betting: Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey, Stuffing, and Football: Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a time for tradition, with American families gathering each year to enjoy a festive feast that’s full of its own traditions. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, candied yams, cranberry sauce, and more fill the table, but perhaps more important is how it all got there. Everyone in the family has a role. Grandma makes her…read more

[IMAGE] An Important Cause for National Veterans and Military Families Month

An Important Cause for National Veterans & Military Families Month

On October 31, 2019, President Trump signed a proclamation designating November 2019 as National Veterans and Military Families Month.[1] According to the most recent Census statistics, there are over 18 million veterans in the United States.[2] Between relatives, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and others, most of us know at least one person who has served. The…read more

[IMAGE] The Scariest Thing About Sports Betting

The Scariest Thing About Sports Betting

It’s that time of year again: the weather’s finally starting to cool down in Florida (or is it?), pumpkin spice lattes are in season, and the trick-or-treating is about to begin. Whether or not you’ll be putting on a costume or watching horror movies, Halloween is a serious event for many Floridians. From converted garage…read more

[IMAGE] It’s Time to Speak Up: National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

It’s Time to Speak Up: National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence is a highly pervasive issue. Did you know that in the United States, almost 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner each minute? Over the course of a year, that adds up to more than 10 million women and men who suffer in their own homes.[1] In Florida, 34.2% of women…read more

[IMAGE] If There is Life, There is Hope

If There is Life, There is Hope

According to the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling’s 2018-2019 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine report, 23% of problem gamblers and loved ones reported having suicidal ideations. That’s more than one out of every five help callers. September has been recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month, and gambling addiction is a risk factor. Gambling addiction does not discriminate and…read more

Breadsticks and Debt

Breadsticks and Debt July 10, 2016 Suffering from a gambling addiction is a unique affliction on many fronts. Make no mistake, gambling is a behavior, and like many other process addictions, individuals are compelled to do engage in the act. Consider this, you are out at dinner and the restaurant you are dining at this…read more

Mental Toughness and Recovery

Mental Toughness and Recovery June 22, 2016 Having recently caught a re-run of Lone Survivor, it got me thinking about the concept of mental toughness. In the movie, mental toughness is on full display throughout the film. One of the first displays of mental toughness was the moment before they were set to engage the enemy…read more

Emotional Health

Emotional Health May 31, 2016 Consider this narrative: you are sleep deprived, over worked, and can’t seem to outrun your stress. After several days of feeling run down, you fall ill. For many of us, this happens a few times a year. We don’t take care of our basic needs, leaving the door open for…read more

4 Useful Tips for Helping Someone with an Addiction

4 Useful Tips for Helping Someone with an Addiction May 24, 2016 Dealing with someone who is suffering from an addiction is not easy. Addicts are often masters of deception and manipulation. There is a craft to hiding and protecting an addiction, and most addicts have mastered it. However, there are some things you can…read more

Is Social Media Causing You to Become an Addict?

Is Social Media Causing You to Become an Addict? April 29, 2016 Most all American’s carry a small computer in their pocket. The modern smartphone is nothing short of amazing. The computing power, capability, and speed of your standard iPhone dwarfs that of an expensive desktop just 8 years ago. With all that speed and…read more

A Quick Guide in How to Help a Problem Gambler

A Quick Guide in How to Help a Problem Gambler April 21, 2016 Over the course of the last month, we have received a lot of inquires about how to help someone with a gambling problem. Talking to someone that is not actively seeking treatment or help themselves can be challenging. Here is a roadmap…read more

5 Questions March Madness is Leading You Down a Dark Path

5 Questions March Madness is Leading You Down a Dark Path March 31, 2016 Both Problem Gambling Awareness Month and March Madness are drawing near their natural conclusions. In the addiction arena, we have spent the month spreading awareness about how problem gambling impacts the lives of millions of Americans. With betting becoming more accessible,…read more

Problem Gambling Awareness Month

Problem Gambling Awareness Month March 8, 2016 March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month and with every March, the addiction support community rallies together in a grand push to raise awareness about a public health issue that has major impacts on our country. Millions of Americans are negatively impacted by problem gambling. Yet, it doesn’t get…read more

4 Things You Need to do Before Going to the Casino

4 THINGS YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE GOING TO THE CASINO February 22, 2016   The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling recently participated as a vendor at the Dragon Parade, a community event in Orlando, Florida. The event was a celebration of Asian culture, and thousands of community members were in attendance. Of the many…read more