Services for Professionals

Educating the professional community about problem gambling is essential to helping Minnesotans with a gambling addiction get the help they need. We work to educate professionals who may interact with someone with a gambling problem so they know what actions to take.

Our presentations include basic information about problem gambling, gaming disorder and the interplay between gambling addiction and other addictions. We also start conversations about prevention, the importance of responsible gambling and available resources and treatment. Content can be customized for each audience.

Some of the audiences we seek to reach include:

• Mental health and addiction providers
• Counselors and therapists
• Healthcare staff
• Non-clinical professionals, such as attorneys, bankers and financial advisors
• Human Resources staff
• Clergy and religious leaders
• Corrections personnel

We also have a responsible gambling high school toolkit to help get these important messages out to young people.

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

In partnership with LSS Financial Counseling, we offer free specialized financial services for those in recovery from gambling addiction as well as family members affected by the gambler’s behavior. LSS counselors understand the unique interplay between financial discipline and gambling recovery.

Those who take advantage of this service will meet with a financial counselor who understands how gambling can negatively impact an individual or family’s finances. This benefit provides access to six free and confidential financial counseling sessions that address financial challenges brought on by problem gambling and help participants chart a path forward to financial stability.

The experienced and non-judgmental counselors at LSS Financial Counseling can help:

• Assess one’s current financial situation
• Create a personalized budget and debt management plan
• Develop strategies to avoid future financial pitfalls
• Set and achieve long-term financial goals

Sessions are available in person, by phone or online. Those interested in taking advantage of this free service should contact LSS Financial Counseling at 800-528-2926 and mention assistance for problem gambling to schedule an appointment. LSS Financial Counseling is an experienced nonprofit, full-service credit counseling agency.

For professionals working with clients who have a gambling disorder, Gamban, a self-exclusion tool that allows gamblers to block themselves from accessing thousands of online gambling sites, may be appropriate. MNAPG offers individual subscriptions to Gamban that can be used on up to 15 devices per household. Gamban is available free of charge. Please email sstucker@mnapg.org to request a one-year subscription.

We recognize that community leaders are in a unique position to provide a positive influence on those in their community. Our free problem gambling awareness course helps community leaders in Minnesota educate and advocate for those in their community experiencing problem gambling. The two-part, six-hour course provides training related to gambling addiction, recovery options, and tools and resources to help others. More information is available here. Ongoing registration is available here.

MNAPG hosts regular meetings for gambling treatment providers to network and share their knowledge and experiences with colleagues. These meetings include updates from MNAPG on outreach and prevention work in the community as well as advocacy efforts. It’s also an opportunity for providers to suggest topics for MNAPG’s annual conference.

Recognizing that the lack of financial counseling represents a significant gap in treatment for many clients, MNAPG dedicates resources for GamFin, an online financial education community for professionals in problem gambling, so that financial counselors can meet with individuals on an as-needed basis. The service is a boon to counselors — it represents an added and important service they can offer to their clients — and can provide an important anchor leg for those in recovery.