SANFORD, Fla. (PRWEB)
February 07, 2023

Today, the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling issued an alert encouraging Florida citizens to enjoy the “The Big Game”, scheduled for Sunday, February 12th, free from pressures to bet, and to remember if they or someone they know is struggling from financial, emotional, legal, relationship, work, school, or other issues due to gambling, Your One Sure Thing, 888-ADMIT-IT, will be available around the clock to help problem gamblers and loved ones get their lives back on track.

“While millions of Americans anxiously await the big football game, given the proliferation of sports wagering advertisements on television and via digital media, coupled with new technology options for even faster paced wagers placed throughout games, it should come as no surprise that residents young and old are falling prey to gambling addiction,” explained Jennifer Kruse, Executive Director of the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG).

With more than 180 million viewers of National Football League (NFL) games [1] and over $80 million wagered on games through November 2022 alone [2], there is much excitement leading up to the championship game, best known as the single largest sports betting event in the United States. However, according to Kruse, “The Big Game will also serve as a wake-up call to many bettors that their gambling has become out of control. Let’s face it, although sports gambling is not legal in the Sunshine State, it hasn’t stopped Floridians from gaining access to placing bets and experiencing serious to severe difficulties,” Kruse noted.

Documenting this point is data from the FCCG’s statewide 24/7 Confidential and Multilingual Problem Gambling HelpLine, 888-ADMIT-IT. In a new study of fiscal year 2021-2022 HelpLine contacts, 888-ADMIT-IT observed a 33% increase in contacts from Florida help seekers since 2019/2020. Online gambling, as the primary gambling problem of the gambler, continues to be reported more frequently, with steady increases observed over the past three fiscal years (a 42% increase from 2019/2020 to 2020/2021, and an additional 23% increase from 2020/2021 to 2021/2022) [3]. “Overall, of the HelpLine contacts disclosing the gambler’s age, 14% were 25 years old or younger, which is a notable change from years past and a growing concern,” explained Kruse. Amongst those engaged primarily in online gambling, the large majority were male (86%), White (68%), and 30 years of age or younger (52%). Further, the most common type of online gambling reported amongst male gamblers was online sports betting (55%) [4].

The FCCG issued today’s alert reminding citizens that 888-ADMIT-IT offers a breadth of free services for anyone impacted by a gambling problem. “In addition to providing supports based upon a help seeker’s individual circumstances, all services are free to help anyone rebuild their lives. Available options for help include, but are not limited to, the FCCG’s Online Program for Problem Gamblers (OPPG), its Peer Connect Program, and its A Chance for Change Recovery Workbook Series for gamblers, loved ones and senior gamblers, available in English and Spanish and provided in a variety of formats, such as hard-copy, digital pdf, or as video or audio files, for ease in use,” Kruse outlined. The FCCG HelpLine further offers necessary education and trainings for Florida mental health treatment professionals, gambling operators, financial and legal service providers and professionals, healthcare providers, and others, and is available by calling or texting 888-ADMIT-IT, emailing (fccg@gamblinghelp.org), chatting (gamblinghelp.org), or visiting social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter.

Kruse is also urging all gambling operators in the State to promote Florida’s only Confidential and Multilingual Problem Gambling HelpLine, 888-ADMIT-IT, during football season and beyond, across all platform types, because “it’s the only service that provides comprehensive problem-gambling-specific supports to in-state residents”. Finally, the organization is encouraging state government to provide adequate resources necessary to spread the message statewide that help is available, and recovery is possible, while tending to those who are already sick and suffering.

References:

1. Johnson, M., NFL TV Ratings: 2022 NFL regular season pulls in 185 million viewers. Business Sports, January 12, 2022.

2. Yakowicz, W., U.S. Set Gambling Record In 2022 With More Than $54.9 Billion in Revenue. Forbes, January 13, 2023.

3. Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, 2021-2022 Problem Gambling HelpLine Annual Report, January 2023.

4. Ibid.

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