As March comes to a close, Recovery Resources is putting the finishing touches on another successful and eventful National Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Throughout the month we disseminated over 2,000 pieces of literature in the community through 10 partner agencies concerning responsible gambling. Among these materials included literature from the Cuyahoga Problem Gambling Coalition, Be the 95% Campaign and the National Council on Problem Gambling.

 

As we near the end of Problem Gambling Awareness Month, we would like to recognize our partners in the Gaming Industry. From an outside perspective it may seem these two parties – Responsible Gambling and the Gaming Industry – are opposing forces; this could not be more of a misnomer. The problem gambling treatment and prevention community continue to have respectful and fruitful relationships with the gaming industry.

 

The Ohio Casino Control Commission, Ohio Lottery Commission, Ohio Racing Commission and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services collaborate to promote responsible gambling through an initiative called Ohio For Responsible Gambling. In addition, local gaming venues such as Horseshoe Cleveland, Thistledown Racino and the Hard Rock Rocksino offer responsible gambling programs. These programs often include literature, posting of the problem gambling helpline through their sites (1-800-589-9966), individual conversations with patrons and self-exclusion programs. The Casino Control Commission has over 1,000 individuals that have voluntarily and confidentially self-excluded themselves from Ohio casinos.

 

We are fortunate to have members of the gaming industry participate in the Cuyahoga Problem Gambling Coalition. Because of popular demand, we will again host a panel on responsible gambling practices with representatives from the gaming industry at our Cuyahoga Problem Gambling Symposium.

 

Save the date for this event on Friday, June 17 from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm at the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging in Cleveland, Ohio. For more information on this event please contact Ashley Hartman ahartman@recres.org or Mike Buzzelli mbuzzelli@recres.org.

 

The Cuyahoga Problem Gambling Coalition envisions a community free of problem gambling. This goal could not be reached with our collaboration with our partners in the gaming industry.