Category Archives: Gambling

The industry must get on the front foot and stop being reactive to regulatory change, asserts Paul Foster, CEO of the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association.

These comments come in the immediate aftermath of the trade association, which represents online gaming operators that have been issued a remote licence in Gibraltar, completing the set-up, formation and funding of the Gibraltar Gambling Care Foundation as a registered charity.

Initially detailed towards the start of the month, Foster sits down with CasinoBeats to delve a little deeper into what prompted the establishment of the GGCF: Responsibility is at the centre of Gambling today and as a jurisdiction, Gibraltar, wanted to drive the responsibility agenda and make a real difference.

Given there is a concentration of gambling companies and therefore related data, the opportunity to work with an independent body at the University of Gibraltar was a clear opportunity.

However, in order for the open-source evidence and analysis from the University to be acceptable on the global stage, it was necessary to create an independent Foundation to collect associated monies from the industry and distribute them to the University and other approved establishments, so that there could be no influence from the Gambling Companies on the research which will drive integrity of data.

goals are to reduce gambling related harm, encourage independent research and drive player protection

The GGCF will be operated independently from the GBGA under the support and guidance of councillors Stephen Reyes and Selvan Soobiah, and will initially predominantly fund research that will take place at the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming that is being set up by the University of Gibraltar.

Having currently raised over 2.5m from Gibraltar gaming companies to fund the setting up of the CERG and fund it for an initial three year period, Foster moves to touch upon the initial goals of the Foundation and how these could evolve over time: The initial goals are to reduce gambling related harm, encourage independent research and drive player protection, he says.

This will be achieved through making grants to recognised and approved establishments which can achieve these goals. The primary initial establishment is the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming at the University of Gibraltar where a 2m+ grant has been approved to fund the first three years of research.

We expect that as the Centre of Excellence becomes more established that they will drive further research which will be innovative and cutting edge and that this will be supported as well. The foundation will also look to support responsibility through other grants as the landscape evolves both in, and outside of Gibraltar.

Upon unveiling news of the establishment of the GGCF, Nigel Birrell, GBGA chairman, emphasised that this is a pivotal step change for all Gibraltar licensed operators and the jurisdiction as a whole.

With this in mind, Foster continued by elaborating on exactly why this is so: Responsibility has always been at the centre of the Gibraltar licensing regime. In most countries the regulator or Gambling Act will require the establishment of bodies to promote responsibility, research, education and training.

The GBGA members are the driving force and will continue to be

In Gibraltar, it has been the operators who have taken the lead with the support of Her Majestys Government of Gibraltar and the gambling regulator to fund through the foundation the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming. This means having cutting edge research and support at the heart of the industry which will drive knowledge and therefore better player protection across the industry.

Among the numerous strategic ambitions touched upon throughout, industry support has been critical thus far, and will continue to be so moving forward for the GGCF. But how wide ranging has the support received been? And how key was this in the initial set-up?

The GBGA represents the industry in Gibraltar and this initiative has been driven by our members who have committed substantial support in both a financial sense and the time and energy of company employees in supporting it, it is added.

We are also seeing interest and support in the Foundation from non-Gibraltar licensed companies, and we welcome all offers of support and are therefore open to discussions.

The GBGA members are the driving force and will continue to be at least during the early days of the project, however we hope through collaboration across multiple markets that we can draw further support.

The university are backing this by making their research open source to all and the independent charitable status of the Foundation should help all companies to donate.

The industry has to get on the front foot and stop being reactive to regulatory change

The foundation of the scheme comes as the industry finds itself under an ever increasing spotlight across many regions, to conclude Foster touched upon what more can be done to demonstrate a commitment to minimising gambling related harm.

The industry has to get on the front foot and stop being reactive to regulatory change. The industry knows its customers better than any regulator or non-governmental agency and because of this they are best placed to make a difference and drive the responsible agenda, he explains.

We would recommend the formation of strong, focused industry bodies across all jurisdictions which can pull companies together to explore and support responsibility at the centre of the industry. Companies on their own, will always have limited resources to explore the options to support customers and prevent gambling related harm.

When companies work together collaboratively and share these resources there is the opportunity for real change. The GBGA has become a blueprint for how to make change happen, and we welcome any industry body who would like to know more to contact us so that we can share our learning on how collaboration, determination and honesty can drive real change.

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Paul Foster, GBGA Responsibility is at the centre of gambling - Casino Beats

(United Kingdom) March 15, 2021

GamStop is a self-exclusion website service specifically developed to assist with problematic gambling behaviors. It is helpful to those that have a gambling addiction but can be a hindrance to the enjoyment of online casino gaming if an individual ends up registered with GamStop inadvertently or while they self-registered during the addiction process. Some users once they are registered with GamStop are enrolled inadvertently by others, or do not have a real gambling problem and regret that they have registered. Removal from GamStop is possible but it does take a bit of intuitiveness and some work. Pick7.bet is a site specifically with casino gaming sites that are not listed with GamStop.

The history of GamStop and gambling habits in the UK led to its inception.

Operators of the GamStop scheme must be registered with GamStop in order to prevent gambling. It cannot be used on sites that are not registered. GamStop is registered only in the UK and Wales and out-of-country problem gambling addictions are not subject to its use. The House of Lords in the UK determined in 2020 that about a third of the population of the UK and Wales suffer from a gambling addiction, and this has been exacerbated by the lockdowns due to the Pandemic, plus the availability of online gambling sites. This was the reasoning behind the development and implementation of GamStop. According to the BBC (British Broadcasting News), there are new restrictions now being placed upon online gambling and the British National Lottery. Some restrictions are that credit cards cannot be used or abused, spin speeds are now going to be regulated, and losses can never be celebrated as wins. This happens when bonuses are applied and seem as wins to users when in fact the winner has suffered a loss.

GamStop is not forced upon gamers in any way.

What GamStop does is have a player register themselves to put a limit on how many times they can gamble, and on the amount of money they are spending while gambling, especially on the slot games. Slot machines typically are the most problem with online gambling sites as the spin action can be determined by the site and speeds can be notoriously quick. Gamers many times do not even realize how fast they are playing or how much they are losing while they play. So, what is GamStop? It is a self-enclusion registration site that will prohibit the use of some sites that do not follow the new regulations that the British government is imposing on online gambling casino sites. GamStop has mixed reviews with some users that were spending too much online loving it, while others find that it prevents them from using sites even occasionally and getting off the registration is not easy. Problem gamblers are now limited and seem to enjoy being on GamStop while those that had only a minor interest in online casinos seem sorry that they registered.

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GamStop Can Be Either Helpful or a Hindrance to Online Gamblers - The African Exponent

Dan Wetzel, Pete Thamel, and SIs Pat Forde react to blue-bloods falling out of March Madness as Kentucky and Duke are set to miss out for the first time in decades.

The guys also get you set for a weekend of wagers by picking each conference tournament. Make sure to play this years Yahoo Fantasy 50-K Tourney Pickem contest for your chance to win cold hard cash as well. The bracket with the highest score will win the Grand Prize of ten thousand dollars and a Las Vegas getaway. It is free to enter and over ten thousand people will win cash prizes. Sign up now at tourney.yahoo.com.

Stick around for an unexpectedly wild FCS Degenerate Minute too.

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports Podcast family at https://apple.co/2Abi8jk or at yahoosports.com/podcasts

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Conference weekend gambling guide, COVID forces Duke out of the tournament - Yahoo Sports

Betting Stuff is a regular sports gambling column here at Saturday Down South with a focus on college football wagering (though dont be surprised to see some college basketball insights from time to time, especially now during March Madness). Did you know that sports betting is now legal in Tennessee? You can view the best Tennessee sportsbook appshere.

If youre wondering if this is your moment to really go wild with upsets on your March Madness bracket, well, I have some good news. The last 5 months have proven that no team and no lead are safe. Want proof? Since they began tracking the stat in 2008, no season produced a higher percentage of games in which a team has blown a 20-point lead.

Then you have COVID issues hobbling a few bluebloods overnight with Kansas and Virginia reportedly down contributors ahead of their tricky matchups with Ohio and Eastern Washington, respectively. The Jayhawks and Cavaliers wont be the only teams dealing with these issues, which has the potential to level the playing field instantly.

And lastly, we have the top 8 teams in this years field. Are the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds truly rock-solid or are they primed for a massive letdown? Michigan, the top seed in the East, is down its heart-and-soul senior Isaiah Livers and enters the tournament on a 2-3 run. Iowa and Alabama have shot their way past top-10 opponents and gone cold enough to lose to teams that didnt even make the NCAA field. My point being, for a group that should be unassailable, at least for the first weekend, these eight teams dont feel like ironclad clocks to make the Sweet 16.

So now that you know we have some history (20 point+ comebacks), some noted distractions (COVID), and some shaky top seeds in the mix, how do you go about filling out your bracket and betting individual games? Why dont we start with my favorite March Madness system? Specifically titled, the 12-5/13-4 chaos system.

Each year the 12-5 and 13-4 matchups produce 8 games in total. And every year since 2008, I have played every one of those games on the moneyline and against the spread. Yes, that means I shell out cash for 16 separate bets (8 ML, 8 ATS). It may seem like a burdensome tactic, but the results have been tremendous. In the last 12 years, this system has been profitable 9 times (75%) and returned an average +3.16 units per tournament (+19.75% ROI). The results have broken down in this way:

ATS

Moneyline

What we know right off the bat is that the 12-5 matchup has a rich upset history. Since the tournament expanded and allowed 12 seeds to compete in 1980, the higher seeds are 107-53 straight up (66.9%). Five years later the field expanded to 64 teams, which set up the first 4-13 matchup. Since 1985, 4 seeds are 111-28 (79.9%) against the plucky upstarts on the 13-line.

If those outright winning percentages scare you, let me remind you that as the number of Division I teams has grown, the quality of the 12 and 13 seeds has increased. As a result, weve seen more competitive games and more upsets in recent years. Since 2000, 12-seeds teams have been a winning proposition at the betting window going 46-34 ATS (57.5%). The 12-seeds are what give this system stability because theyve been reliable against the spread and have outperformed their market value by winning outright more than the public expects.

But its the 13-seeds that really make this system shine. The payouts are tremendous when a 4 seed falls in the Round of 64. Lets take a quick look at the current prices for the 13-seeds: Ohio (+320) vs. Virginia, Liberty (+380) vs. Oklahoma State, UNC Greensboro (+510) vs. Florida State, North Texas (+285) vs. Purdue. Hitting a single one of these games is a massive boon and has the potential to turn this system into a huge moneymaker.

Its time to talk about teams and not systems for a minute. Im pleased to report that this years field is loaded with really strong mid-majors. Heres a quick rundown on my favorites to bust some brackets.

Iona (No. 15, East Region) 12-5 SU, 12-5 ATS

Rick Pitino is back and his team has a surprising amount of talent. Nelly Junior Joseph is a freaky athlete and the Rookie of the Year out of the MAAC. The 6-9 freshman from Nigeria gives them a shot to defend Alabama. Isaiah Ross gives a major offensive weapon (18.4 ppg) because he can be a one-man show. In nearly a third of the Gaels games this season he went for 25 or more.

Colgate (No. 14, South Region) 14-1 SU, 10-5 ATS

If you like teams that can run-n-gun, then the Raiders are for you. Four guards shoot 35% or better from 3-point land and theyre led by senior point guard Jordan Burns (17.1 ppg, 40% 3P). This team threw a scare into Tennessee as a 15-seed back in 2019, and they have the firepower (86.4 ppg, 2nd) to do it here against Arkansas.

Ohio (No. 13, West Region) 16-7 SU, 14-7 ATS

Five starters average double figures and theyre led by do-everything point guard Jason Preston (16.6 ppg, 7.2 apg, 6.8 rpg). They played top-seeded Illinois in Champaign and nearly upset the Fighting Illini, falling by 2. Theyve won 9 of their last 10, and are the 15th most efficient offense in college basketball. Lookout, Virginia. Also, get a load of Prestons journey to the tourney below.

Georgetown (No. 12, East Region) 13-12 SU, 16-9 ATS

To the naked eye, a 13-12 record may seem horrific, but in a year like this, you should only care about how a team is playing right now. Since the start of February, GU is 9-3 with 3 wins against AP Top 25 teams. Theyre lights out from long range and are drawing a Colorado team that is nothing special away from Boulder (6-6 on the road).

Utah State (No. 11, South Region) 20-8 SU, 15-11 ATS

If youre looking for a March Madness superstar, you could a lot worse than Neemias Queta. The Mountain West Player of the Year also took home DPOY honors while averaging a double-double and 3.2 blocks per game. They absolutely kill teams on the glass, from both an offensive and defensive rebounding perspective, and they have the 7th-best defense in the nation. Theyll grind teams into dust.

St. Bonaventure (No. 9, East Region) 16-4 SU, 15-5 ATS

The Bonnies, from a sleepy town in Western New York, are primed for a deep run. They have scoring balance (5 starters 10+ ppg), a superstar point guard (Kyle Lofton), and a defensive stopper with a 7-8 wingspan. Osun Osunniyi is a one-man block party, and the reason the Bonnies have the nations 17th-ranked defense. KenPom has these guys ranked 25th in the country, and I have them in my Elite Eight.

Utah State+4.5 vs. Texas Tech

As I mentioned, Utah State is absolutely devastating on the glass. This provides them with a level of stability most teams simply do not have. When their shots arent falling, they stay in games by gaining extra possessions (19th). Every starter for Texas Tech is between 6-2 and 6-7, which means that Queta (7-0) and Justin Bean (6-7) have a chance to impose their will. In terms of an official recommendation, the Chris Beard factor scares me off the outright upset, but Ill gladly take the points in what should be a lower-scoring affair.

Over 162.5 Colgate-Arkansas

Two teams that want to play really fast and love to score in transition. Colgate is the No. 3-ranked offense in the country, in terms of efficiency, and Arkansas is downright special after the break (43.8 ppg in the 2nd half, 4th). I foresee Colgate speeding up the tempo in this one and Moses Moody and JD Notae generating a lot of open looks for a talented Razorbacks team. And remember, life is too short to bet the under.

Oral Roberts+16.5 vs. Ohio State

This is a motivational play, as Ohio State is coming off of an emotionally draining loss in OT to Illinois. They can roll out of bed and beat the Golden Eagles, so Im not sure youll get a super-focused performance from Ohio State out of the starting blocks. Oral Roberts, if given the chance to hang around, has the offense to do it. Max Abmas leads the nation in scoring (24.2 ppg) and has a stud playing alongside him on the low block. Kevin Obanor is averaging nearly 18 and 10 this season and can kill teams from the perimeter when he lets it fly (46.9% 3P). The Buckeyes were just 10-10 ATS as a favorite this season, including narrow victories over UMass-Lowell and Cleveland State. They should let ORU hang around here.

Abilene Christian+350 vs. Texas

The Wildcats are the most disruptive defense in college basketball, forcing turnovers on nearly 24% of their opponents possessions. These turnovers lead to easy baskets and when they are forced to shoot in the half-court, they enjoy great success from 3-point range (37.7%, 21st). Texas has been sloppy with the basketball at times this year and has struggled from the line (70.8% 187th). Thats a bad recipe against the Southland champs. One added bonus for ACU is Kolton Kohl. The 7-footer gives them a shot against a fearsome Texas frontcourt. Need more convincing? After his miracle trip to the Final Four with VCU in 2011, Shaka Smart is just 2-6 SU in the NCAA tournament with 4 straight first-round exits.

The committee took care of Gonzaga and Baylor, rewarding them for their tremendous seasons. Both teams have red carpets to the Elite Eight. I dont foresee Gonzaga breaking much of a sweat, given their elite play on both ends of the floor. And while Im intrigued by Ohio State in the South Region, Im going to stick with Scott Drew and Baylor. As for the other two teams, I believe Houston has a much more manageable road than Illinois in the Midwest Region and the defense to flummox Ayo Dosunmu and company should they lock horns in the Elite Eight.

The East is where I believe things will get nuts, and Im going out on a limb with UConn. Since James Bouknights return, the Huskies are 7-2 SU in their last 9. As a team, theyre ferocious on the offensive glass (36%, 6th) and make opponents really earn every bucket inside the arc. Teams are making just 45.6% of their twos against UConn, while getting 5.3 of their shots blocked per game (8th). I see UConn upsetting Alabama and facing an upstart that has dispatched Michigan before arriving in the Final Four.

It wouldnt be March Madness without the Cinderellas, so here are three teams that I think are undervalued.

Oregon has simply been a different team since Will Richardson returned. The Ducks are 11-2 in their last 13, and 5-1 ATS in their last 6. Dana Altman has taken the Ducks to the Elite Eight, Final Four and Sweet 16 in his last 3 Big Dance appearances. They have the talent, the coaching, and a second-round opponent (Iowa) that is just dreadful on defense. I can see a run coming.

This tournament is about matchups and USC has a matchup nightmare in Evan Mobley. The 19-year-old just won the Pac-12 POY award and averaged 22 and 10 in the conference tournament. Hes a monster and is the type of player that can carry USC to the second weekend for the first time since 2007.

The Bonnies may have a tougher draw against a red-hot LSU team than they do against No. 1 Michigan, should they advance. But if they can get past Will Wades surging Tigers, they have a chance to become the first A-10 team to play in the Elite Eight since Dayton in 2014. They are my favorite longshot because of their experience, their game-changer in the middle (Osunniyi), and the fact that they wiped the floor with a very deep A-10 this year. KenPom rated the A-10 the best mid-major conference in America.

See the article here:

Betting Stuff: Your ultimate gambling guide to the NCAA Tournament - Saturday Tradition

Diagnosis

If you recognize that you may have a problem with your gambling, talk with your primary care doctor about an evaluation or seek help from a mental health professional.

To evaluate your problem with gambling, your doctor or mental health professional will likely:

Treating compulsive gambling can be challenging. That's partly because most people have a hard time admitting they have a problem. Yet a major component of treatment is working on acknowledging that you're a compulsive gambler.

If your family or your employer pressured you into therapy, you may find yourself resisting treatment. But treating a gambling problem can help you regain a sense of control and perhaps help heal damaged relationships or finances.

Treatment for compulsive gambling may include these approaches:

Treatment for compulsive gambling may involve an outpatient program, inpatient program or a residential treatment program, depending on your needs and resources. Treatment for substance abuse, depression, anxiety or any other mental health disorder may be part of your treatment plan for compulsive gambling.

Even with treatment, you may return to gambling, especially if you spend time with people who gamble or you're in gambling environments. If you feel that you'll start gambling again, contact your mental health professional or sponsor right away to head off a relapse.

These recovery skills may help you concentrate on resisting the urges of compulsive gambling:

Family members of people with a compulsive gambling problem may benefit from counseling, even if the gambler is unwilling to participate in therapy.

If you've decided to seek help for compulsive gambling, you've taken an important first step.

Before your appointment make a list of:

Questions to ask your doctor may include:

Don't hesitate to ask any other questions during your appointment.

Your doctor will likely ask you a number of questions. Be ready to answer them to reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:

Oct. 22, 2016

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Compulsive gambling - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic

Photo by Jackie Chou on Unsplash

Gambling becomes a problem when you are no longer able to control it. Gambling addictions lead to serious financial and social consequences. It is extremely difficult to stop and better not to let it take a foothold in the first place by gambling responsively.

If you manage to overcome your gambling addictions, the real work just starts, which is to avoid repeating it in the long run.

If you manage to overcome your gambling addictions, the real work just starts, which is to avoid repeating it in the long run.

Breaking free from gambling addictions is hard but it is not impossible. Thanks to Casinowhizz; are some steps to help you deal with gambling addictions.

As with our forms of addiction, your long road to recovery starts when you recognize it as a problem that needs to be fixed. Many gamblers suffer from gambling addictions and do not know this. Only about 3% of this number seek help, the rest ignore it.

Gamblers who seek help do mostly do this when the problem is severe and they have lost all hope of dealing with it. This should not be the case. You can determine if you are dealing with a gambling addiction when you cannot follow your laid downtime and money limits.

One of the easiest ways to deal with gambling addictions is to find another activity to channel that energy and time to. On the road to recovery, avoid boredom and having nothing to do because it is at this point the urge for excessive gambling takes root.

Plan your days with lots of activities to avoid doing nothing and falling into the pit hole of gambling again. You can join a local support group and learn how others are coping and what mechanisms have worked.

Take advantage of gambling addiction support groups. You can visit a local one in your area or find one online. There, you will get advice and get to listen to stories of others and what they are doing to deal with the addiction.

Support Groups help deal with gambling addictions. There are also support groups that non-gambling addicts can join to learn but how best to help their loved ones overcome their gambling problems.

If after you have tried self-therapy and other measures to curb your gambling addictions and it doesnt work, get the help of a Professional. Seeing a professional therapist with experience in treating gambling addicting goes a long way in aiding your recovery.

The therapist will set a problem for you to follow based on your unique experience. A strategy your therapist will likely get you on is delayed gratification. Here, you want for long periods before you are allowed to gamble. This will slowly help you regain control.

If you are dealing with a mild situation of gambling addiction, setting gambling restrictions can help you curb the excessive. Set a time and money limit on what you want to spend while gambling and be true to it. If you meet your limit, stand up and walk out on gambling without looking back no matter the urge.

Avoid spending a minute or a dollar more, because when you do, it is going to be hard stopping yourself from spending the next minute and the next dollar playing. Before you know it, you have far exceeded your limits.

If your gambling addiction problem is severe and you can no longer follow a limit, the best solution is to cut off from gambling completely. Try and live a normal life without gambling. Do this until you no longer feel the urge to gamble, Check out Here for more information.

To avoid boredom which can lead to relapse, find other activities you can do. For example, you can rekindle an old hobby you enjoy. Do not worry about when you will continue gambling, just stop gambling.

In the long run, when you have regained control, you can now dip back in gambling activities little by little. This time follow stringently the time and money limits you set to avoid a relapse.

One of the biggest challenges to dealing with gambling addictions is dealing with your gambling circle. If you have close friends and people around you that take so much about gambling, it is best to avoid such conversations (without being disrespectful it possible). On the road to recovery, the slightest trigger can ruin it.

Also, if you belong to social media groups that talk about gambling, it is best to leave those groups till at least you can get your gambling addiction under full control.

The best way to deal with gambling addictions is to avoid all forms of gambling till you are in a better position to exercise control.

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How to Deal with Gambling Addictions - LA Progressive

Press release:

In honor of Gambling Disorder Screening Day (March 9) and Problem Gambling Awareness Month, the New York Council on Problem Gambling and the Western Problem Gambling Resource Center announce the release of an online self-screening tool for individuals who want to explore their risk for problem gambling.

The tool guides individuals through a set of questions to help them examine their gambling behaviors and the possible consequences of their gambling activity. Individuals who complete the questionnaire receive personalized feedback and resources based on their own answers.

While its true that most individuals who gamble do so solely for entertainment and do not experience problems caused by their gambling, all gambling inherently involves risk. This risk is not only present in the activity of gambling, but also in the risk of causing negative consequences to their lives and the lives of those around them.

For these individuals and families, gambling can have devastating effects to their lives. Effects can range from financial issues all the way to damaged relationships and lost jobs.

Just as there are varying levels of gambling activity and negative consequences, there are also varying levels of motivation and awareness about our gambling activity and the risk involved.

While some people are ready to reach out directly for assistance, support and resources, others may be just starting to think about how their gambling is affecting their life. Others may only be curious about their gambling activity and the possible risk that they have.

In an effort to reach all individuals in New York State, those who are ready for assistance and those who are simply curious about how their gambling may put them at risk for future problems, NYCPG has a variety of resources available. The newest of these resources is the online self-screening tool. The tool is available online here.

For more information about Gambling Disorder Screening Day in NYS, Problem Gambling Awareness Month and tools to use in your community visit here.

For a full list of 2021 NYCPG Screening Day Partners, visit here and click Screening Day Partners.

If you are in need of support related to gambling, please visit here to connect with resources in your community.

The New York Council on Problem Gambling (NYCPG) is a not-for-profit independent corporation dedicated to increasing public awareness about problem and compulsive gambling and advocating for support services and treatment for persons adversely affected by problem gambling. NYCPG maintains a neutral stance on gambling and is governed by a Board of Directors.

Excerpt from:

Today is Gambling Disorder Screening Day and there's a new online tool to help assess risks - The Batavian

AUSTIN Two state lawmakers are backing bipartisan legislation that seeks to legalize casino gambling and sports betting in Texas.

The bills by State Rep. John Kuempel, R-Seguin, and Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, would allow four casino resorts to be built in Austin, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Houston and San Antonio and would also legalize sports wagering. The states three federally-recognized Indian tribes would also be able to expand full-fledged gambling, including slot machines, on their land, a right the state has long denied them.

The bills require a two-thirds vote of lawmakers because they seek to overturn the ban on most gaming enshrined in the Texas Constitution. If either bill passes the Legislature, Texas voters will then have the final say on whether or not to approve the gambling expansion.

The Las Vegas Sands, the gambling empire of the late casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, is behind the push to overturn the states ban on betting. Rob Goldstein, CEO of the Sands, told The Dallas Morning News that casinos would bring economic growth and tourism to Texas.

Our commitment is to develop transformational destination resorts that create tens of thousands of jobs and produce billions in revenue for the state while also providing robust economic benefits to the local host communities, he said.

The states GOP-dominated Legislature has long opposed expanding gaming, most of which is banned other than bingo, the Texas Lottery and some horse and greyhound track racing. But polls, including one released this week by The News and the University of Texas at Tyler, show a majority of respondents said they would legalize casino gambling if given the chance.

Republicans insiders say expanding gambling in Texas will be a huge lift. But the Sands multi-million investment to bring casinos here, plus a parallel effort by pro teams to legalize sports betting, means that undoing the states gambling ban has more momentum now than it has had in years.

Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan, both Republicans, havent openly opposed the push to bring casinos to Texas this year. But Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leads the Texas Senate and has significant sway over legislative priorities there, cast doubt on the efforts last month.

Im not a big supporter of it, Patrick said on the Chad Hasty radio show, saying infighting among casino, racetrack and Indian gaming interests has scuttled progress in the past.

During a briefing on the legislation last month, a Sands representative said Dallas would be the top destination for casino gambling in the state.

Well look at the entire market of Texas, but focus primarily on Dallas because that is where the greatest bleed of money is going, across the Oklahoma border, said Andy Abboud, senior vice president of government affairs for the Las Vegas Sands. While it has a strong tourism industry, we can enhance that.

The legislation, Joint Resolution 133 in the House and Joint Resolution 49 in the Senate, states that slot machines would be taxed at a rate of 25% and table games at 10%. This revenue would then go into state coffers. Gaming interests that want to build a casino in a metropolitan area with a population of fewer than five million would be required to invest at least $1 billion in the venture. Casinos built in more populous areas would require a $2 billion investment.

The number of casinos would be capped at four, not counting those built by tribes on Indian land. Only one tribe in Texas, the Kickapoo Nation, currently operates a casino here, but that location still lacks traditional slot machines and many other Vegas-style table games. Limited gambling would also be allowed at certain racetracks.

A second set of bills laying out the regulatory rules for the casinos has not yet been filed.

While the Sands legislation includes the legalization of sports wagering, an alliance of pro teams and betting platforms also seeking to overturn this ban have not openly supported casinos. The sports betting legislation, which would also require a Constitutional amendment, would allow Texans age 21 or older to bet on professional and college sports. Bettors would receive a maximum of 90% of their winnings, with 10% going to fund special education in Texas.

A spokesperson with the Sports Betting Alliance, which is backed by all the top Dallas-area teams including the Cowboys, Mavericks, Stars and Texas Rangers, did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday morning about the casino legislation.

Read more:

Bipartisan legislation filed to legalize casino gambling, sports betting in Texas - The Dallas Morning News

The popularity of internet-based gambling in Pennsylvania has taken off as the pandemic caused casinos to shutdown. Butonline gambling addictionmay be rising as well.

In January, Pennsylvania saw more than $80 million in revenues frominternet-based gambling. Thats the most in a single month since it was legalized several years ago

Josh Ercole, Chief Operating Officer atthe Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA Inc., says calls for help with internet-based gambling addiction, which includes online sports betting, are on the rise.

The past year has just been incredible, Ercole says.

A year ago, just 5% of calls concerned internet-based gambling addiction but by the end of the year, it was much higher, he says.

In December of 2020, we saw the highest rates, 50% of calls were either sports or internet total, so just an absolutely tremendous shift, he says.

In years past, he says, most people were seeking help with an addiction toslot gambling.

March isNational Problem Gambling Awareness Month. For more information on how to recognize the warning signs of a gambling problem and to find treatment options call1-800-GAMBLER.

Read more from our partners, WLVR.

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More Pennsylvanians Seek Help With Online Gambling Addiction - 90.5 WESA

March 8, 2021 - 2:06pm

Press release:

The Finger Lakes PGRC and The Western PGRC are teaming up to present a Virtual Problem Gambling Training Event!

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM). Increase your knowledge of problem gambling, learn the signs of problem gambling, learn about new options and emerging trends in the gaming industry, and how YOU can help raise awareness of problem gambling in your community!

This is a FREE virtual event open to everyone interested in joining with their local PGRC (Problem Gambling Resource Center) to recognize Problem Gambling Awareness Month.

For more information or to register:

[emailprotected](Western PGRC Team Leader) -- (716)572-5017

[emailprotected] (Finger Lakes PGRC Team Leader) (518)603-5037

*If you or someone you know is struggling to control their gambling help is closer than you might think*www.nyproblemgamblingHELP.org.We are Here to Help."

Read more:

'Problem Gambling Basics and Emerging Trends' topic of virtual training event March 17, must register - The Batavian