[IMAGE] The State of Sports Betting: Is It Legal in Florida?

These are Not the Only Players in the Game

Football is here in full force! The preseason rankings are starting to show their true colors, and the top teams in both pro and college leagues are being defined. You can still count on plenty of upsets throughout the remainder of the season, but even the pundits can’t predict when or how they will happen….read more

World Suicide Prevention Day: #BeThe1To Make a Difference

Suicide: A Growing Health Concern Suicide is a public health issue that does not discriminate against age or ethnicity and can impact anyone regardless of their social or economic status. In Florida, it is believed that one person dies by suicide every three hours. Unfortunately, that number is rising.1 While there is no single cause…read more

[IMAGE] Super Mario™ Slot Machine Toy is Inappropriate in McDonald's® Happy Meals®

Super Mario™ Slot Machine Toy is Inappropriate in McDonald’s® Happy Meals®

The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) joins the National Council on Problem Gambling by calling upon Nintendo® of America and McDonald’s® to stop marketing their Slot Machine Super Mario™ toy to children in McDonald’s® Happy Meals®. Today, Jennifer Kruse, Executive Director of the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG), joined the National Council on…read more

[IMAGE] The Kids are Back in School. Here’s How They May Be Exposed to Gambling.

The Kids are Back in School. Here’s How They May Be Exposed to Gambling.

There is no question about it – kids love summer break! While your little ones aren’t always excited about the beginning of the new school year, it may bring peace to your daily schedule. For you and your children, “Back to School” is an annual tradition of transition. Whether it’s moving up a grade or…read more

Reduce Your Risk

If You Gamble, Play It Safe.

Have you gambled in the last twelve months? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. In fact, the majority of Floridians gambled within the last year—and that’s okay, as long as you do so responsibly! Gambling is a legal activity in state of Florida for adults 18 years and older. In addition to operating the…read more

A woman sitting alone and depressed in window light

Suffering in Silence: Suicide and Problem Gambling

With high profile deaths such as Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, the issue of suicide and the stigma surrounding mental health have remained the center of many conversations throughout the United States and abroad. A recent report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that from 1999-2016, suicide rates have steadily increased…read more

World Cup Betting Pools are Not Safe for Everyone

You have probably heard a lot about this year’s World Cup – officially the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ – since it started about a month ago. Men’s soccer teams representing 32 different countries qualified for the tournament over a three-year period from a total spread of 211 teams. Will you watch the final this…read more

Boys sitting on couch playing video games

HAGS With These Summer Safety Tips

The yearbooks have been signed, school’s out, and kids all across the state are as excited as ever to dive head first into summer vacation. As internet access and video games are just a quick reach away, it is important to establish responsible gaming practices at a young age. According to data collected from our…read more

[IMAGE] Why We Must Discuss Gambling Disorder for Men’s Health Month

Why We Must Discuss Gambling Disorder for Men’s Health Month

Did you wear blue yesterday? In 1994, President Clinton proclaimed “Blue Monday” as the kickoff event for Men’s Health Week. Each year since, the nation observes Men’s Health Week from Blue Monday to Father’s Day to bring focus on the health issues affecting men. In tandem, the entire month of June has been dubbed Men’s…read more

[IMAGE] Support #StigmaFree for Mental Health Awareness Month

Support #StigmaFree for Mental Health Awareness Month

Millions of Americans experience life through the lens of mental illness, and millions more – their family members, friends, and other personal connections – are affected. Living with mental illness is hard enough. Stigma makes it even harder by shaming those who need treatment into fear and silence. Did you know that one in five…read more

National Pet Week®: Benefits of Pet Ownership

Whether you are a pet owner or not, it’s tough to deny the joy that companion animals bring to their owners. In fact, the majority of pet owners consider their animals part of the family, many even purchase birthday or holiday gifts for them. While the average house pet decidedly lives a fairly luxurious life,…read more

Problem Gambling and Minority Mental Health Month

Problem Gambling and Minority Mental Health Month The U.S Department of Health and Human Services is raising awareness of Minority Mental Health Month to end racial health disparities throughout the month of April. The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) joins the conversation through a look at how minority populations are affected by problem gambling…read more

Problem Gambling in Pop Culture: The Gambler (1974)

Problem Gambling in Pop Culture: Karel Reisz’s The Gambler (1974) Karel Reiz’s The Gambler (1974) is a poetic, gritty drama that provides a valuable and realistic representation of the perils faced by the millions of Americans effected by problem gambling. The film follows Axel Freed (James Caan) as he desperately exhausts every possible avenue to…read more

A Nationwide Event Takes Hold in Florida: Money Smart Week

Money Smart Week is a nationwide event about something that’s important to everyone: personal finance. From learning how to count money as a child to improving your credit score to developing the best retirement strategy, the subject touches people at all stages of life. For most of us, it’s also an area where we can…read more

How Gambling Can Rewire Your Brain

When you hear the word “addiction,” what comes to mind? The spotlight has been shined on the dangers of alcohol and drug addictions, and the signs and symptoms of these are relatively easy to spot. But the psychological mechanisms of addiction do not require a substance. An addiction is a brain disorder where an individual…read more

Why Problem Gambling Awareness Month is a Big Deal

Problem Gambling Awareness Month is a big deal here at the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling. We are joined by organizations from around the country to raise awareness on the issue of problem gambling in addition to prevention, treatment and recovery services throughout the month of March. So what is problem gambling? Your first thought…read more

Think You Know March Madness? Get to Know PGAM.

March marks the beginning of Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Organizations from around the country partake in this grassroots campaign to help raise awareness concerning the issue of problem gambling. March also marks the beginning of March Madness, the NCAA’s largest sporting tournament when basketball teams from around the country compete for a national championship. Betting…read more

Join us in PGAM!

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM). At its core, PGAM is a grassroots campaign that relies on a wide range of organizations from different industries to help raise awareness for the issue of problem gambling. As the conversation regarding mental health in the United States begins to intensify, it’s important that the gambling addiction…read more

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week   The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) supports the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) during their annual National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW).   NDAFW brings teens and scientific experts together to discuss the scientific facts…read more

Technology: A Force for Good or Evil?

Technology: A Force for Good or Evil? January 18, 2018 From the most basic technologies, i.e. “the wheel”, to the modern smartphone, technology has been changing the world. January 6 is the day to recognize those achievements and to look to the future of technology and how it impacts our daily lives. In many respects,…read more