National Council on Problem Gambling Awards 5 Organizations with Agility Grants

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) announced it is awarding $192,000 in Agility Grant funding to five organizations as part of the Spring 2025 grant cycle.

National Council on Problem Gambling Announces Agility Grant Recipients

With this, the NCPG marks its seventh funding round since its 2022 launch. The Agility Grants program remains the first and only national initiative solely focused on funding problem gambling prevention. Over the past three years, the NCPG has awarded grants to organizations across 21 states, impacting more than 450,000 individuals. Agility Grants offer seed funding for pilot programs and fresh approaches that support early intervention, particularly among youth ages 12–17 and young adults 18–24, where prevention efforts can have the greatest long-term effect.

NCPG director of programs Jaime Costello explained that effective prevention starts with investing in community-led initiatives. According to Costello, the project demonstrates a strong dedication to developing practical, scalable solutions that truly connect with the communities they aim to support.

Who Are the Recipients and What Will They Do?

Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota
The Lao Assistance Center will enhance its community outreach by offering six culturally tailored training sessions focused on mental health, addiction, and problem gambling within the Lao community in the Twin Cities. Each session will be followed by a multilingual community forum aimed at reducing stigma, encouraging open dialogue, and increasing access to culturally relevant prevention resources and support services.

NICOS Chinese Health Coalition
The organization will broaden its youth gambling prevention initiative, targeting Asian American middle school students in San Francisco. The expanded program will introduce a youth leadership element by training students to serve as peer educators. Student leaders will help deliver a curriculum that addresses gambling risks, promotes financial literacy, and teaches effective prevention strategies.

Artreach, Inc.
Artreach will present BEYOND THE BET, a multimedia theatrical production that tells the real-life gambling stories of four individuals from varied backgrounds, life stages, and experiences. Combining live performance with guided discussions, the program aims to raise awareness, explore the multifaceted nature of gambling-related harm, and foster meaningful conversations around problem gambling prevention.

University of Nebraska
The University of Nebraska will broaden its campus-based problem gambling prevention initiative to enhance its reach and effectiveness within the university community, with the program incorporating educational messaging into intramural sports using data-driven approaches. In addition, the program will be reinforced throughout the year by multiple events focused on raising awareness of harmful gambling habits.

Ohio State University Foundation for the benefit of The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery
Last, but not least, this program by the Ohio State University will spearhead a nationwide initiative to strengthen problem gambling prevention on college campuses. The effort will equip campus leaders with a comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum aimed at reducing gambling-related harm among college students.