Pennsylvania Is Ready for Problem Gambling Awareness Month

Pennsylvania is ready to kick off Problem Gambling Awareness Month and champion safer gambling and risk awareness. Representatives of various organizations across the state gathered to highlight the importance of this initiative and encourage players to gamble in moderation.

Problem Gambling Awareness Month Is Just Around the Corner

March is National Problem Gambling Awareness Month in America – a time when regulated industry stakeholders, regulators and well-being bodies join forces to raise awareness of the risks associated with gambling, teach players about the safer gambling tools available to them, and advise players to gamble responsibly.

Among other things, Problem Gambling Awareness Month seeks to teach players to recognize the early signs of gambling harm, allowing early intervention. Industry specialist generally agree that prevention tends to yield better results than treatment and minimizes the harm experienced by players.

Otherwise, harmed players could struggle with their finances, relationships and even mental health.

Problem Gambling Awareness Month also teaches people how to spot signs of harm in others and help their loved ones if they exhibit risky behavior.

Gambling Harm Education Is Very Important

As Pennsylvania prepares to once again promote responsible gambling in March, representatives of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), the Pennsylvania Lottery, and the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania gathered to discuss the matter.

Dr Latika Davis-Jones, secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, spoke ahead of Problem Gambling Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of education. She said:

Educating yourself and others about the signs of problem gambling can be life-changing. By recognizing these signs and encouraging those around us to seek help, we can prevent problem gambling from becoming a more serious problem.

Dr Latika Davis-Jones

People struggling with gambling should contact the universal 1-800-GAMBLER hotline. In January, Kentucky reported an increase in calls to the hotline, highlighting increased visibility of the problem gambling support services.

The PGCB Fined an Operator, Banned Two Adults

In other news, the PGCB just issued a $81,575 fine to Presque Isle Downs & Casino, which violated its rules. According to the control board, the property had failed to keep slots machines running on their gaming floor and had delayed the submission of its Principal License application.

In addition to that, the PGCB also placed two adults on its involuntary exclusion list. One of them had left a five-year-old child alone in a car at Rivers Casino Philadelphia‘s valet parking area for 12 minutes. The other left a 10-year-old child in a car at Wind Creek Casino‘s parking garage in Bethlehem.

For reference, leaving children unattended while gambling is strictly prohibited as it carries significant risks for the minors. Violators risk bans from legal gambling services in the Commonwealth.