Anti Gambling Campaign

NCPG is the national advocate for the problem gambling field, advocating for programs and services to assist problem gamblers and their families. Our efforts to educate Congress and the Federal health agencies focus on the prevention, education, treatment, enforcement and research on gambling and problem gambling. We call on all NCPG members and supporters to utilize the materials below and elsewhere on our website and with NCPG’s affiliates to increase awareness of and provide solutions for gambling problems.

Feb 12, 2020 The PNP leadership has intensified its campaign against illegal gambling through the reiteration of two policies: No Take Policy and One Strike Policy. The Alliance for Gambling Reform is a collaboration of organisations with a shared concern about the deeply harmful and unfair impacts of gambling and its normalisation in Australian culture. We campaign for reforms of the gambling industry that reduce the harm it causes.

There is no Federal agency tasked to address problem gambling– not SAMHSA, not NIH, not the National Institute of Mental Health, not the National Institute on Drug Abuse nor the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Addiction. None of the $7.6B in Federal gambling taxes currently goes to address the consequences of gambling addiction and NCPG receives no Federal funding nor any dedicated state-level funding. Federal agencies like these cannot simply choose to target something like gambling addiction; they must be specifically tasked to do so by the US Government executive branch and supported by funding from Congress. Personal stories make a huge difference. Contact your leaders and congressional representatives to let them know how gambling addiction has affected you, your family, your company/ employees/customers, and your community – make your voice heard!

Top 10 Recent Work and Successes

with Legislative Director Brianne Doura-Schawohl

1. NCPG named in a filed piece of federal legislation (The Sports Wagering Market Integrity Act of 2018)

2. Filed a bipartisan, bicameral piece of federal legislation (Gambling Addiction Protection Act) to better serve our men and women in uniform

3. Increased funding for problem gambling services in three states:

Succeeded in having $6.8 million designated from new gambling revenue in Illinois for Illinois programs in 2019
Secured $200,000 from new DC sports betting revenue for local DC problem gambling programs in 2019
Helped to get $130,000 designated from new sports betting revenue in and for Colorado programs in 2019

4. Engaged stakeholders in 37+ more states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico to assist in maximizing opportunities for problem gambling services:

Helped move legislation and set legislative precedent for $1.5 million designated from new gambling revenue in and for Louisiana programs in 2019
Helped defend Nevada’s proposed problem gambling funds for 2020 from an 80% slash, achieving roughly the previous year’s funding level
Worked with legislators, regulators, gambling operators, and NCPG affiliates in other states in 2019 including: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia

5. Engaged thousands of stakeholders around the globe about the strengths and shortcomings of the US problem gambling policy infrastructure

6. Tracked, monitored, and engaged with over 1,700 pieces of gambling legislation across the nation

7. Assisted regulators in writing rules and regulations concerning gambling that would also protect the vulnerable in an impactful way.

8. Worked with operators across the world to better recognize and build comprehensive internal and external responsible gambling policies and controls to protect themselves and their customers.

9. Reached all-time highs in public awareness: 2019’s Problem Gambling Awareness Month in March and the Holiday Lottery Responsible Gambling Campaign in December both drew record participation.

Anti Gambling Law

10. Featured speaker or panelist in many problem gambling trainings and gambling industry conferences, both in person and online.

Problem Gambling Advocacy Day

Originally set for October, the 2020 event has been canceled due to coronavirus; 2021 plans are TBA.

Join key stakeholders in Washington, DC to develop strong public policies relating to problem gambling and appropriating the necessary funding for education, research, treatment, and prevention. Problem Gambling Advocacy Day brings together key stakeholders in a grassroots effort for training on how to be an effective advocate with legislature representatives and their staff members at all levels, and to support specific legislative initiatives that NCPG is working for on the federal level. Details at ncpgadvocacy.wordpress.com.

Legislative Advocacy Tools

For fact sheets on gambling and problem gambling for every state go to our Help by State section, each state page contains the appropriate fact sheet.
To identify your state house representative please visit www.house.gov
To identify your state senate representative please visit www.senate.gov
To view population information for your state please visit www.census.gov

Issue Briefs & Policy Materials

DSM-5, ACA, & Gambling Disorders: Opening The Door Wider To Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery The keynote address at NCPG’s 28th National Conference on Problem Gambling by Dr. Westley Clark, Director of the U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment