[IMAGE] Raising Awareness Before the Holidays: Safer Gambling Week 2020

Raising Awareness Before the Holidays: Safer Gambling Week 2020

As we get into holiday season mode, mentalities begin to shift to vacation, leisure activities, and family time. While 2020 has been an exceptional year and holiday gatherings will likely be tapered back due to the risk presented by COVID-19, the importance of raising awareness about the impacts of gambling addiction has only increased. It…read more

[IMAGE] Combat Gambling Addiction: Prevention is the Best Defense

Combat Gambling Addiction: Prevention is the Best Defense

Every November, also known as Military Family Month, our nation proudly pays tribute as a symbol of gratitude, remembrance, and support for our nation’s heroes on Veterans Day. These individuals are members of our country who have proudly served in the U.S armed forces. Though we recognize the journey that these individuals faced while in…read more

[IMAGE] Problem Gambling and Financial Planning Don’t Mix

Problem Gambling and Financial Planning Don’t Mix

Did you know that October is Financial Planning Month? Financial planning is vital to reach long-term goals while paying short and long-term expenses, whether working towards a down payment on a new home, saving for your child’s college tuition, or ensuring a more comfortable retirement. This alone isn’t an easy balancing act, and many hire…read more

[IMAGE] FCCG Annual Report Reveals Striking Impacts of COVID-19 on Those Suffering from Gambling Addiction

FCCG Annual Report Reveals Striking Impacts of COVID-19 on Those Suffering from Gambling Addiction

Sanford, FL: Today, the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) released its FY 2019-2020 Annual Report of its statewide 24-hour Problem Gambling Confidential and Multilingual HelpLine (888-ADMIT-IT), which revealed important findings, some of which present significant implications. During this past fiscal year (July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020), the agency received 17,848 contacts, of…read more

[IMAGE] The Aftermath of Gambling Addiction on Relationships

The Aftermath of Gambling Addiction on Relationships

Multiple factors can influence a person to develop a gambling addiction. It is essential to know that most individuals who struggle with this addiction by no means planned to let their gambling spiral out of control. To help individuals who battle with problem gambling, we must understand the difficulties they face. Problem gambling results in…read more

[IMAGE] Some Could Not Overcome the Urge to Bet on the Preakness Stake

Some Could Not Overcome the Urge to Bet on the Preakness Stakes

The anticipation to see world-class horses and their trainers line up for the second Triple Crown race had been building up for weeks. After being delayed due to the pandemic, the Preakness Stakes featured 12 horses on Saturday, October 3, 2020, for an event with no fans in the stands and shown through simulcast. The…read more

[IMAGE] Celebrating National Recovery Month: Treatment is Available for Gambling Addiction

Celebrating National Recovery Month: Treatment is Available for Gambling Addiction

National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that treatment services can enable those with mental health and substance use disorders to live healthy and rewarding lives. Our goal is to provide hope and help to the individuals who want to get started on the path to recovery from problem…read more

[IMAGE] Financial Stress and Problem Gambling: The Hole Grows Deeper and Deeper

Financial Stress and Problem Gambling: The Hole Grows Deeper and Deeper

OUR 888-ADMIT-IT CONFIDENTIAL, MULTILINGUAL PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE IS ACCESSIBLE 24/7 AND AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE WHO IS AFFECTED BY A GAMBLING PROBLEM. WE OFFER VARIOUS RESOURCES, TOOLS, AND REFERRALS, TO HELP REGAIN CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES IN A HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE WAY. IT ONLY TAKES ONE CALL. The burden of financial problems can be overwhelming for…read more

[IMAGE] The Importance of Strong Mental Health in the Fight Against Suicide and Problem Gambling

The Importance of Strong Mental Health in the Fight Against Suicide and Problem Gambling

Protecting our mental health should be a priority in our daily lives; September 6-12, 2020, is National Suicide Prevention Week. More than ever, we are taking steps to prevent suicide and effects that may come from gambling addiction. No one has escaped from the changes that this pandemic has brought on the world. Even though…read more

[IMAGE] Showing Care for Our Seniors Through Problem Gambling Prevention

Showing Care for Our Seniors Through Problem Gambling Prevention

Within the past 20 years, gambling in the United States has become a preferred pastime. Here in Florida, gambling opportunities have increased, as has the senior population, which has been growing more rapidly than any other age group.  For most Florida seniors, as is true for most Americans, gambling is a form of entertainment that…read more

5 Myths About Addiction

5 Myths About Addiction August 16, 2015   1. Overcoming addiction is simply a matter of willpower. Sure, we wish it were that easy. Just stop gambling. Easier said than done. With drugs, prolonged exposure alters the brain in way that results in powerful cravings and compulsions. A gambling addiction has similar parallels. These brain…read more

Fantasy Sports and Online Gambling

Fantasy Sports and Online Gambling July 15, 2015 I spent the July 4th holiday like many people… with friends, grilling out by the pool. While catching up with my college roommate, he was quick to inform me about how much money he spent gambling last month… The amount of money lost wasn’t the shocking part……read more

7 non-related but ever-important questions to ask yourself

7 non-related but ever-important questions to ask yourself July 2, 2015   The FCCG recently visited the University of Central Florida’s Counselor Education program and presented our Awareness Now program to their counselors in training. Being a graduate of the program, it was comforting to walk back into the classroom. There is something therapeutic about…read more

A Culture of Silence

A Culture of Silence June 16, 2015 Recently, I was fortunate enough to serve as an exhibitor at the Asian Cultural Event in Orlando, Florida. The FCCG purchased a table at the event in order to expose the Asian community to the various problem gambling resources available to Floridians. I’ve tabled at events like this…read more

Planes and Bad Behavior

Because of airplanes, it’s possible to eat breakfast in Orlando but have lunch in New York City. In theory, modern air travel is a marvelous luxury. In reality, there is nothing fun about the actual flying. Waiting in long lines at airport security coupled with the limited space coach seating provides makes the actual process…read more

Problem Gambling… a Family Addiction

Recently, the FCCG was afforded the opportunity to speak to community members of the Port Orange Library. The presentation consisted of a standard overview of problem gambling. The audience was engaged, asked questions, and seemed to display a thirst to learn more about a very important topic. The Q & A session that succeeded the…read more

A Whole New World

Thank you for stopping in and reading the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling’s 1st ever blog post! We are beyond excited to enter the world of blogging. Over time, we hope to expose more people to information surrounding the issue of problem gambling. If you don’t know what the FCCG is or does, let me…read more