The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has entered into a six-year license agreement with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc. (CCGNJ) for the use of their 1-800-GAMBLER® federally registered service mark in all U.S. states outside of New Jersey, as well as all U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
This builds on NCPG’s multi-year National Problem Gambling Helpline Modernization Project. The project, supported by a grant from the National Football League Foundation in 2021, will improve call center technology, data collection and reporting, as well as upgrade criteria and offer standardized training and certification for call centers across the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network.
“The Modernization Project will allow us to make significant improvements to the operations, technology and infrastructure of the network to keep up with the ever-growing need for problem gambling resources,” said Keith Whyte, executive director of NCPG.
So what does this mean for Minnesota’s helpline? Once a helpline is well established, it’s important to keep the helpline number. “One never wants to be in a situation when someone in need calls a helpline number and finds it’s been disconnected,” says Susan Sheridan Tucker, MNAPG executive director.
While the Minnesota Department of Human Services will ultimately make the decision, MNAPG will recommend continued use of 1-800-333-HOPE in all in-state publications, brochures, etc. However, when the day comes that sports betting is approved, MNAPG will advise that the 1-800-GAMBLER number be used, especially with regard to intrastate games and advertising. The use of one number will also help in the production of ads that often have to include several state helpline numbers when the ad audience is multi-state. Use of 1-800-GAMBLER would enable anyone from anywhere to call one number and be directed to their specific state helpline (if the state has its own vendor, like Minnesota).
The one aspect that will add another step is if someone purchased their cell number in one state and is currently calling from another state, their call will be directed to the state covering the originating area code. This is true for every helpline in the nation except for 911. Federal legislation must be passed in order for this technological change to happen. Until then, NCPG will work to improve its warm transfers when this situation arises.
The 2022 legislative session ended without any action on the sports betting bill. There were significant differences between the bill approved by the House and the bill introduced in the Senate.
House Bill The House bill would have made sports betting exclusive to the tribal nations, with revenue taxed at 10%. The revenue generated would be set aside to fund the implementation and adherence to compliance, with the remaining funds distributed as follows: 25% to the Department of Human Services; 25% to MNAPG for problem gambling prevention, training and research; and 50% to encourage sports participation among youth in marginalized communities. In addition, the bill would have increased the number of counseling hours allowed for families and included a qualitative and quantitative study of young adults 18 -35 years old, the most vulnerable group identified in sports gambling.
This bill added some significant responsible gambling language, which MNAPG had advocated. The bill also would have raised the legal age for online gambling to 21 from 18.
Senate Bill The Senate bill moved to the Finance Committee in the last days of session. Some of the language incorporated into the House bill was included in the Senate bill, including changing the legal age for online gambling from 18 to 21, but with some significant differences. It added Canterbury Park and Running Aces as allowable license holders. While the tax rate was also 10%, revenue would have been distributed completely differently than the House bill. No funds were set aside specifically for problem gambling. Instead, one-third of the funds would go to the Department of Human Services for mental health purposes. The second third would be provided to charitable gambling organizations in an attempt to compensate them for having the much higher 35% tax rate. The last third would be used to support and attract sporting events to Minnesota, such as the Super Bowl.
MNAPG was extremely disappointed by the Senate bill and relieved that it did not progress. While we remain neutral on gambling expansion, we will fiercely advocate for the inclusion of best practices in responsible gambling and that significant funds be set aside for prevention, treatment and research. It’s disillusioning that Minnesota continues to deny the serious implications of gambling harms as it makes attempts to expand access to gambling. We will continue reaching out to the legislature to require sufficient funding for problem gambling and to mandate that regulatory language is used to help ensure that harms are minimized for all who choose to gamble.
The gambling landscape continues to shift quickly, as new types of gambling and gaming activities proliferate. Those working in prevention, treatment and research need to understand and be responsive to these changes.
This year’s conference, which will be offered in person and online, will cover a variety of topics with two presentation tracks, one geared toward treatment professionals and another for a more general audience. The full conference will be recorded, so whether you join us in person or online, you won’t miss any of our content. CEUs will be offered.
Who Should Attend?
The conference is appropriate for many people, including:
Gambling, alcohol and drug addiction counselors and therapists
Other health care and social service workers
Law enforcement officers
School and church leaders
Lawyers and financial professionals
People in recovery and their families
Policymakers
Gaming operators and regulators
Behavioral health researchers
CEU credits are available from various professional boards.
Programs and Speakers
While conference details are still falling into place as of this writing, here are some of the programs and speakers that will be part of the conference:
“Problem Gambling and Alexithymia: Implications for Interviewing, Screening, and Intervention,” presented by Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., Pathways of St. Paul.
“Gambling Disorders in a New Era of Gambling,” presented by Jody Bechtold, LCSW, ICGC-II, BACC, CGT, CEO of The Better Institute.
“How Can We Move Forward with Cultural Humility/DEI Absent a Strategic Plan? What’s Your Navigation System?” presented by Deborah Haskins, Ph.D., LCPC, board-approved supervisor, MAC, ICGC-II, CCGSO, BACC, CGT, President, Maryland Council on Problem Gambling.
“Sports Betting Integrity and Today’s Student Athlete,” presented by Dan Trolaro, MS, Vice President of Prevention, Epic Risk Management.
“Emergence of Problem Gambling from Childhood to Emerging Adulthood: A Systematic Review,” presented by Dr. Serena King, L.P., Professor and Chair, Psychology of Hamline University.
What: MNAPG annual conference
When:
November 15
Where:
Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center and virtually
Cost:
Free
Registration Deadline:
October 25 (for in person)
November 10 (for Zoom)
Dr. Jeffrey J. Marotta discusses the latest findings from the 2021 NAADGS Problem Gambling Services Survey. The information NAADGS gathers about problem gambling services in the United States to help stakeholders better understand how services differ from state to state.
With sports betting consuming our airwaves, it may be helpful for treatment providers to be familiar with sports betting jargon. Here are some common terms used in sports gambling.
Action – A bet or wager.
Against the spread – The result of a game including the point spread.
Bad beat – A bet that looks like the bettor is going to win but doesn’t.
Book (Sportsbook) – A place where someone can bet on the outcome of sporting events.
Buck – A $100 bet.
Chalk – The favorite in a game.
Consensus – Percentage of the betting public on each side of a game. Some bettors will bet against the “public money” (whichever team more bettors have placed their bets on).
Cover – The betting outcome on a point spread bet. For a favorite to cover, it must win by a number higher than the spread. An underdog can cover by losing by a number less than the spread or by winning the game outright.
Dime – A $1,000 bet.
Dollar – A $100 bet.
Edge – The advantage a bettor has before a bet is placed.
Even (even money) – A $100 bet to win $100.
Favorite – A team favored to win a game.
Future bets – A bet on events that will happen further in the future, like who will win a division or who will win a championship well in advance.
Handle – The total amount of money wagered on a game.
Handicapping – Researching sports statistics to pick winners.
Hedging – Betting opposite of a previous bet to guarantee winning at least a small amount of money.
Hook – A half-point in the spread.
In-game wagers – Bets made after a game has started.
Juice – A commission books win on each bet.
Limit – The maximum allowed wager on a single bet.
Lock – A large favorite.
Long shot – A large underdog.
Moneyline bet – A bet made if a team will win or lose outright with no point spread.
Nickel – A $500 bet.
No action – A game that is no longer taking bets and all wagers are refunded.
Oddsmaker (linemaker) – Someone who sets the opening line on a game.
Off the board – A game bettors cannot wager on.
Over – The combined score of two teams is more than what the sportsbook set.
Parlay – A bet that combines multiple games for a higher payout. The more games, the higher the risk but the greater the payout. In order for the parlay to win, each game must win or push (tie). If any of the games lose, the entire wager loses.
Pick’em – A game with no favorite or underdog.
Point spread – Margin of victory set by oddsmakers to attract bets action on both the favorite and the underdog. A favorite must win by a number higher than the point spread to cover the spread. An underdog can cover by losing by a number less than the spread or by winning the game outright.
Puckline – Hockey has a point spread of -1.5 for the favorite and +1.5 for the underdog.
Proposition bets (prop) – A bet on anything that is not directly tied to the outcome of the game. For example, it can be the first team or the first player to score in a game.
Push – When neither team covers the spread (the actual margin of victory lands exactly on the spread), no one wins the bet and all wagers are refunded.
Runline – Baseball has a point spread of -1.5 for the favorite and +1.5 for the underdog.
Sharp (wiseguy) – A professional sports bettor.
Steam – A quick change on a line due to heavy wagering.
Taking the points – Betting an underdog against the spread.
Teaser – Similar to spreads, teasers are favored towards the bettor but have a lower payout.
Total bet (over/under) – A bet on the combined number of points scored by both teams in a game, including overtime/extra innings.
Under – The combined score of two teams is less than what the sportsbook set.
Underdog (dog) – A team not favored to win a game.
