RESOURCES FOR professionals

MNAPG seeks to become a central point for all things problem gambling in Minnesota. As part of this goal, we offer the following range of resources that include recovery stories, advocacy efforts, research and information for professionals.

 

Northern Light, the MNAPG award-winning quarterly newsletter.
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Podcasts
The Broke Girl Society

The Broke Girl Society

Listen to Jessica H. share her recovery story from problem gambling.Listen to Jessica H. share her recovery story from problem gambling. LISTEN NOW

After Gambling

After Gambling

After Gambling podcast is a show dedicate to increasing awareness and understanding problem gambling. LISTEN

ONLINE GAMBLING BLOCKING APPS and self exclusion

Working one’s recovery program is hard and challenging. To assist your clients who may feel tempted to gamble online or visit a casino or card room, there are a few tools that may be helpful. None are foolproof, but these tools may help.

Voluntary Self-Exclusion from Land-Based Casinos and Cardrooms

In Minnesota, anyone interested in self-exclusion for a fixed time period (six months, one year, three years, lifetime, etc.) from either a casino or card room may do so by signing a voluntary agreement with each separate facility. By signing this contract, they agree not to enter the premises for a specified time and the casino/card room will cease to send promotional materials to their mailing address. If one should break the agreement during the specified time, the operator has the right to charge them with trespassing and/or if they should win a jackpot of $1,200 or more, they will not receive it.

Reduce Time and Money Spent on Online Gambling with Voluntary, Self-exclusion Apps that Block Online Sites.
Learn More

A list of our most sought after presentations can be found here.

Review Topics Request a Date
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PRESENTATIONS

Community outreach is an important part of our mission. MNAPG is available to present on a series of issues pertaining to problem gambling such as an introduction to problem gambling, gaming disorder, gambling as a co-occurring addiction, to name just a few topics. These can be geared towards community and school groups to professionals in the addiction, mental health or other professions that are impacted by problem gambling, such as attorneys, employee assistance programs,   to community groups. These visits can be arranged anywhere in Minnesota and are free of charge. The purpose is to broaden the awareness of gambling disorder and who it affects, initiate conversations about prevention, highlight the importance of healthy play and making the public aware of available treatment assessments and options available at little or no cost.

To learn more or to arrange a visit, contact MNAPG Community Educator, Sonja Mertz, smertz@mnapg.org or 612-424-8595 x3.

Additional RESOURCES

GENERAL PROBLEM GAMBLING RESOURCES
RESOURCES TO START THE CONVERSATION IF YOU SUSPECT A GAMBLING ISSUE

We are not raised to talk about money. We receive little training in school about managing finances or managing risk with the money we have. It’s important for individuals and families to discuss what they want their money to do for them and to set goals to obtain those wants. Setting goals helps develop some discipline to stick to a plan so that ultimately we can live the life we want to live. Below are some resources to help start those conversations.

LEGAL PROFESSIONALS WITH A GAMBLING ADDICTION

The legal profession has a higher incidence of gambling addiction than other professions. Why? Some believe that people attracted to this field tend to be highly competitive individuals and their practices can expose them to affluent clients or funds not usually accessible to others. Lawyers are considered trustworthy and this is an addiction that is not easily identifiable. We’ve listed a couple of resources specifically directed to lawyers below.

  • Never Enough, A Lawyer’s Story (Link to Michael Burke’s Story) Presentation at Holland hospital, Holland, MI
  • Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL) at 866-525-6466 or mnlcl.org.
HUMAN RESOURCES
  • Gambling and Health in the Workplace, an NCRG publication 2012 pdf

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FINANCIAL RESOURCES

Unlike other addictions, gambling disorder can have a direct impact on a gambler’s family, without them even recognizing that their loved one is struggling with an addiction. Often, it isn’t until a financial red flag arises, such as bounced checks, debt collection agencies, bank notices regarding failed mortgage payments, etc. that will alert the family that something is quite wrong. Money is how a gambler continues their addiction and the very thing they chase in order to make things “right.” As soon as it’s apparent that there is a problem, consulting a certified financial advisor is recommended. This enables a neutral third party to recommend and help implement the strategies to preserve the family’s assets.

GAMFIN

As a gambling counselor you may join the GAMFIN community. It’s an online community of financial advisors and gambling counselors who share news, tips and counseling issues. Joining the online community is free, just go to this link https://www.gamfin.org/

If you are interested in further financial training, access to financial advisors, MNAPG is offering free access to these offerings as long as you maintain a joint membership with MNAPG and NCPG. Membership information can be found here. Webinars will be scheduled throughout the year for those interested.

RESOURCES FOR DEBT MANAGEMENT

Gamblers seeking a debt management plan should work through a nonprofit member agency of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. There are three such credit counseling centers in Minnesota:

TRUE LINK

TrueLink is a debit card that allows you or a family member to control exactly how much money can be spent, and on exactly what items or activities it can be spent.

HEALTHCARE
SUICIDE

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PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES, HEALTH CARE FAIRS and COLLEGE RESOURCE FAIRS

MNAPG regularly attends a variety of annual conferences around the state of Minnesota to create awareness about problem gambling and available resources to health care and other professionals. MNAPG welcomes the opportunity to present at conferences on a variety of topics relating to our advocacy work.

MNAPG ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Most years, MNAPG hosts an in-person conference at which national speakers provide the latest information for treatment providers, advocates, legislators, educators and the gaming industry. CEUs are available for LADCs, social workers, psychologists and those working in the prevention field.

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND MONTHLY WEBINARS

Joint members of MNAPG and the National Council of Problem Gambling receive access to NCPG’s regular webinars at no cost. Significant discounts to the national conference are also available.

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NEWSLETTERS

The Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling publishes the Northern Light newsletter quarterly. If you’d like to receive this newsletter, please send an email to info@mnapg.org. Past issues of Northern Light are available as detailed below:

2023 NORTHERN LIGHT NEWSLETTERS
2022 NORTHERN LIGHT NEWSLETTERS
2021 NORTHERN LIGHT NEWSLETTERS
Find archived newsletters here

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    GAMBLING DISORDER SCREENING TOOL KIT

    Screening Standards Manual NCPG

    Gambling Assessment Manual NCPG

    Your First Step to Change, 2nd Edition. A self-help toolkit of resources to help start the journey toward recovery from problem gambling behavior.

    What is Gambling Disorder? One-page article describing Gambling Disorder from a mental health perspective.

    Why Screen for Gambling? Evidence-based information about the importance of screening for Gambling Disorder.

    The Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen. Our recommended brief screen for Gambling Disorder (a one-page, “printer friendly” screener)

    Gambling Resources & Referrals. Additional problem gambling information and tools for self-help and referrals.

    BBGS e-Screener. An electronic version of our Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (only users see their results)

    SELF-HELP PUBLICATIONS

    View, download or order a hard copy below (These are meant to be supplemental guides, not a replacement for therapy)

     BROCHURES
     BROCHURES for professionals
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