Problem Gambling Awareness Month!
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (IDHS/SUPR), in collaboration with the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling (ICPG) and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), proclaim March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM) in Illinois! PGAM activities raise awareness of the prevention, treatment, and recovery services available for those adversely affected by gambling disorder (GD).
Across Illinois, organizations will sponsor community events such as GD screening days and public awareness campaigns to shine light on problem gambling and support problem gambling services. For a current list of events, visit the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling.
In addition, the Chicago Skyline will light up in teal between March 2nd and March 8th to honor all those who struggle with GD, their families, and bring increased awareness of the impact of problem gambling on families and communities.
March 8th is Problem Gambling Screening Day!
Gambling Disorder Screening Day is a one-day event held annually on the second Tuesday of March during PGAM! Established in 2014, Gambling Disorder Screening Day has helped identify individuals who may have a GD and would benefit from further assessment.
Although IDHS/SUPR supports year-round screening for gambling-related problems, Gambling Disorder Screening Day highlights the need to detect gambling-related problems as early as possible, and we encourage all organizations and providers to participate in this annual event.
If you are concerned that someone you know has a gambling problem, visit the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling website for gambling screening events or We Know the Feeling to find a provider in your area. You can also call 1-800-GAMBLER or text ILGAMB to 53342 for more information on problem gambling and how to increase awareness on problem gambling.
Illinois Summit on Problem Gambling: April 5th-6th, 2022
The Illinois Summit on Problem Gambling will engage national and local leaders in problem gambling policy and treatment discussions to inform policy makers, treatment providers, and educators on issues and trends affecting problem gambling and GD in Illinois.
This free 2-day virtual conference, sponsored by IDHS/SUPR, will provide participants with a comprehensive overview of problem gambling awareness, treatment, and prevention as well as introduce innovative approaches to addressing GD in the field of addictions.
The training will be held from 9:00am-12:30pm each day, April 5th, and April 6th, 2022. To register, visit Illinois Summit on Problem Gambling or We Know the Feeling. The We Know the Feeling web page also includes recorded webinars from the past year and registration for other upcoming webinars!
For more information on Problem Gambling and other Gambling initiatives, or to order brochures and posters, please contact Jim Wilkerson at Jim.Wilkerson@illinois.gov or Kellie Gage at Kellie.Gage@illinois.gov
