[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

[IMAGE] Don’t Fumble the Football Season on Sports Betting

Don’t Fumble the Football Season on Sports Betting

If you are a football fan, you have been waiting for the National Football League season to start since the big game in February. Maybe you’ve even followed all of the training reports and draft news along the way! Many already have ideas of what team will be the top dog. Will New England return…read more

[IMAGE] What is Recovery Path?

What is Recovery Path?

888-ADMIT-IT Problem Gambling HelpLine Thousands of people in Florida currently experience the negative effects of a gambling disorder. The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) operates a 24-Hour Confidential & Multilingual HelpLine, 1-888-ADMIT-IT, and offers a number of problem gambling specific programs, services, and referral resources to assist individuals with their specific needs based upon…read more

[IMAGE] Camping World Kickoff: You Can Pick a Side without Placing a Bet

Camping World Kickoff: You Can Pick a Side without Placing a Bet

Tomorrow’s Camping World Kickoff in Orlando will start of the college football season with one of the nation’s most heated rivalry games: the Florida Gators vs. the Miami Hurricanes. Thousands of fans from around Florida and beyond will gather to cheer their alma mater, and the stands will be painted orange, blue, and green. But…read more

Family Fun Month Goes Further in Florida

When it comes to family fun, Florida is hard to beat. Some of the world’s best beaches, theme parks, and campgrounds abound with accommodating weather all year. So, for Family Fun Month, celebrated each year during August, you’ll have no shortage of options that are safe for everyone, from grandma and grandpa down to the…read more

National Parents’ Day Celebrates the Heroes of Problem Gambling Prevention

Since Congress passed “The Parents’ Day Resolution” in 1994, Americans have been recognizing the role of outstanding parents in ensuring the sound future of our society on the fourth Sunday in July.[1] This year, National Parents’ Day falls on July 28th. We want to take this opportunity to celebrate – and inspire – mothers and…read more

Don’t Ruin Your 4th with Illegal Bets on the 400

What do barbecue, the beach, and fireworks have in common? They’re all part of the way Floridians celebrate Independence Day! Not to mention, all three of these come with their own set of safety warnings. Daytona Beach also has a tradition for the holiday weekend that started in the summer of 1959. Originally dubbed the…read more

Ice Hockey Didn’t Always Have Nets

Did you know that goal nets haven’t always been a part of ice hockey? The sport has a long history, dating back to at least March 3, 1875, when the first recorded game took place at the Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal, Canada.[1] At first, the goal zone was marked only by two poles or…read more

Men are More Likely to Suffer from the Hidden Addiction

According to 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine data for 2017-2018, of the more than 1,700 callers who identified the gambler’s gender, 66% indicated male, and for those who specified the age and gender (nearly 1,200), 94% were young men between the ages of 18-20.[1] That’s cause for alarm! Did you know that June is Men’s Health Month, and…read more

Dexter Shows Us the Damage Gambling Addiction Can Do

TV series and movies often glorify gambling, showing the hero or heroine as the smooth roller. Think Casino Royale from the James Bond series or Ocean’s Eleven. But a past episode of Showtime’s Dexter followed a slightly different path. If you’re not familiar, the Dexter series is a crime drama mystery that takes place in…read more

Declare Yourself a Winner

The Triple Crown is a series of three thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses, which occurs each year during May and early June. Over time it has been considered one of the most difficult accomplishments in horse racing, and quite possibly across all sports because it requires a three-year old horse to win the Kentucky…read more

The Hidden Addiction is Watching Tonight – Will It Be on Your Couch?

Wow! If your bracket isn’t broken by now, we would be amazed. With upsets right out of the gate and continuing throughout, March Madness® 2019 has given us whiplash with upsets and buzzer-beaters. There have even been surprises off the court, like when Steph Curry gave his signature kicks to Texas Tech and Auburn players…read more

Shocking Statistics Show Why We Need Money Smart Week®

Right now, we’re in the middle of Money Smart Week® 2019. This national campaign is held each year to educate folks young and old about better management of personal finances. It’s a noble cause, given that many Americans are not in good shape financially: 44% of Americans don’t have the funds to cover a $400…read more

Don’t Make This Common March Madness® Bracket Mistake

Did you watch the 2019 March Madness® Selection Show last night? Judging by the vibrant emotions on display and unrelenting energy, you would almost think it was the championship game itself. “Selection Sunday” is an annual TV tradition that builds excitement for the coming showdown between the top men’s college basketball teams in the country….read more