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

The Gambler Film Poster Banner

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

[IMAGE] A Nationwide Event Takes Hold in Florida: Money Smart Week

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

[IMAGE] X-ray of Human Brain

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

[IMAGE] Why Problem Gambling Awareness Month is a Big Deal

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

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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

6 TIPS TO SURVIVE THE HOLIDAYS

6 TIPS TO SURVIVE THE HOLIDAYS Turn on any television, radio, or simply scroll through your Facebook feed and you will be immediately inundated with holiday cheer. And while the holiday season is undoubtedly a time for joy, for many, the holidays can be an extremely stressful time. For those struggling with addiction, the stress…read more

Santa Says Give Responsibly This Holiday Season

Give Responsibly This Holiday Season The holiday season is upon us and if Black Friday wasn’t enough to get all of your shopping done and you still have more to do, the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling has an important message for you. Lottery tickets may be fun-filled and exciting presents, but they are not…read more

HONORING OUR NATION’S FINEST

HONORING OUR NATION’S FINEST November 9, 2017 Each year our country takes a collective pause and honors our Veterans. Over the course of American history, no group has given more to preserve, protect, and honor American values and our way of life. For many around the world, America is a symbol for freedom and democracy….read more

10 Tips for Family Caregivers

10 Tips for Family Caregivers November 3, 2017 In 1997 President Clinton signed the first National Family Caregivers Month Presidential Proclamation and every president since has followed suit by issuing an annual proclamation recognizing and honoring family caregivers each November. As our loved ones age, it’s important that the care given to them is healthy…read more

Domestic Violence, it’s a Bigger Problem Than You Think

Domestic Violence, it’s a Bigger Problem Than You Think October 12, 2017 It’s October, which means that it is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Each year, The FCCG joins millions of other voices to raise awareness concerning the epidemic that is domestic violence as it has a strong correlation with problem gambling. Domestic violence is a…read more

Your Mind Matters. Talk About It.

Your Mind Matters. Talk About It. October 2, 2017 Sadly, we kicked off Mental Illness Awareness Week with a mass shooting. With each passing mass shooting, the conversation turns towards the issue of mental health. While we have no definitive proof that mental illness was a contributing factor to this tragedy —as it seems one…read more

Suicide Prevention Week

Suicide Prevention Week September 14, 2017 Suicide in the United States, especially when you factor in the standard of living and amenities provided for everyday Americans, is teetering on an epidemic. Suicide in the United States has surged to the highest levels in nearly 3 decades, a federal data analysis has found, with increases in…read more

September is Recovery Month

September is Recovery Month September 5, 2017   The Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the driving force behind National Recovery Month which is a national observance held every September to educate Americans that proper treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental health and/or substance use disorder to live…read more

5 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Mood for National Happiness Day

5 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Mood for National Happiness Day August 11, 2017   National Happiness Day is celebrated in the beginning of August. Here are some simple tips you can implement to improve your mood and well-being.   Get Moving! Regular exercise has been linked to improved moods and overall health….read more

Big Losses, Fraud, and Problem Gambling

Big Losses, Fraud, and Problem Gambling August 11, 2017 While the average debt of our helpline callers is about $50,000, that is nothing compared to what some people have lost during bouts of high stakes gambling. Take Harry Kakavas for example. Kakavas made his fortune selling real estate on Australia’s Gold Coast and is considered…read more

Have the Conversation: National Purposeful Parenting Month

Have the Conversation: National Purposeful Parenting Month July 20, 2017 July is National Purposeful Parenting Month, which strives to build strong, positive, and healthy relationships between parents and their children. One of the many goals for all parents is to emphasize healthy communication skills and teach their children independence. The world is a more complicated…read more