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

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

Financial stress isn’t something anyone wants to go through. However, in these unprecedented times, many have had to experience this side of the coin. With high unemployment rates, layoffs, and a slow economy, smart financial decisions may be what everyone needs to stay afloat. For individuals who suffer from problem gambling, the additional financial stress…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

In senior communities, one of the most popular recreational activities played is bingo. While you may think of bingo as a harmless pastime, for some it represents a gambling opportunity. For some older adults, bingo and other gambling activities may lead to the development of a gambling addiction and frequently, it goes unnoticed. These games…read more

[IMAGE] What Will the Football Season Look Like During the Pandemic? It’s a Good Time to Pause and Reflect on Sports Betting.

What Will the Football Season Look Like During the Pandemic? It’s a Good Time to Pause and Reflect on Sports Betting.

As the world aims to catch a glimpse of normality, this year has been unlike any other. Many are on their toes waiting for their favorite sport to kick-off, and the announcement of the Big Ten and the PAC-12 postponing the college football season until next year plus uncertainty with the NFL is leading others…read more

[IMAGE] 3 Ways Gambling Addiction Can Affect Your Life, Even if You Don’t Gamble

3 Ways Gambling Addiction Can Affect Your Life, Even if You Don’t Gamble

While there is no problem with recreational gambling, the moment when a person loses control over their gambling, it is when it becomes clear they have developed a gambling disorder. According to the DSM-5, or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, Gambling Disorder is a diagnosable and…read more

[IMAGE] The Importance of Self-Forgiveness on the Path to Recovery from Gambling Addiction

The Importance of Self-Forgiveness on the Path to Recovery from Gambling Addiction

Gambling disorder is treatable and is widely recognized in the mental health community. Many individuals that have or are currently struggling with problem gambling face many difficulties, including but not limited to financial and legal troubles, emotional and domestic problems, family conflict, suicidal thoughts or attempts, and other mental health and domestic challenges such as…read more

[IMAGE] With Gambling Addiction, Getting Rid of the “I Could Haves and Should Haves” Starts with Reaching Out for Help

With Gambling Addiction, Getting Rid of the “I Could Haves and Should Haves” Starts with Reaching Out for Help

The blame game? Have you ever played it? Felt it? Do you know it? It comes along the lines of blaming yourself for something you “should have done” or “could have done better.” It begins with a feeling within yourself, most often a negative feeling, that burns within you that in the past, you should…read more

[IMAGE] Gaining Independence from Problem Gambling

Gaining Independence from Problem Gambling

On Independence Day, the United States remembers the sacrifices made in order for our country to become the “land of the free.”Our founding fathers fought for the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That’s the independence we value and wish for everybody to pursue. This month, we want to promote independence from…read more

[IMAGE] As Florida’s Gambling Venues Reopen, Prevention of Problem Gambling Needs to be Top-of-Mind

As Florida’s Gambling Venues Reopen, Prevention of Problem Gambling Needs to be Top-of-Mind

While we are all still navigating our new normal , Florida’s gambling facilities are starting to reopen with new safety measures, including installing plexiglass, rigorous cleaning schedules, reduced capacity, and even disposing of cards and chips to help avoid the spread of the virus. But much like we need to prevent the spread of COVID-19,…read more

[IMAGE] Prevention of Problem Gambling Goes Hand-in-Hand with Men's Health Month

Prevention of Problem Gambling Goes Hand-in-Hand with Men’s Health Month

June is Men’s Health Month, a national observance used to raise awareness about health and wellness for men and boys all over the country. It is used to encourage families to practice healthy habits. According to the Center for the Disease Control and Prevention, men in the United States die an average of five years…read more

Support Continues Uninterrupted

Given the rapidly-evolving situation with COVID-19, we wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the measures and precautions we are taking at this time, and to reassure you that the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) will continue to provide uninterrupted problem gambling specific help and resources through our 24/7 confidential, multilingual 888-ADMIT-IT…read more

The FCCG and Seminole Gaming Urge Consumers to Rebound with the Florida HelpLine during Problem Gambling Awareness Month

Today the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) and Seminole Gaming advised Floridians to Keep Gambling Fun! Don’t Let Problem Gambling Affect Your Shot: Rebound with Florida’s Problem Gambling HelpLine, 888-ADMIT-IT during National Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Gearing up for the one-month launch on March 1st, Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM) is a nationwide grassroots…read more

Tips for Loved One’s: Are You Affected by Someone’s Gambling Problem?

In celebration of the month of love, let’s discuss the reality of problem gambling in the household. Discovering that a loved one has a gambling addiction is a shock, and the ramifications can spread beyond emotional. You are not alone in this struggle. For every problem gambler, 8-10 other people are negatively impacted, including loved…read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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