Gambling Disorder Committee Minutes 02/26/2021

  • Meeting was held via Zoom video-conference.
  • Committee members and guests in attendance by phone or video conference were welcomed.
    • Members in attendance were: Co-Chairs Anita Pindiur & Elizabeth Thielen, Nick Kurtz, Ciunal Lewis, Catherine McNeilly, Gene O'Shea, Robert Stockham, Rodney Walker.
    • Guests in attendance were: Hannah Carliner, Kellie Gage and Lisa Wolff
  • The January 26, 2021 minutes, previously sent to Committee members, were displayed on the screen. Motion to approve minutes made by Gene O'Shea; seconded by Dr. Lewis. There were no suggested revisions, and the minutes were voted on and unanimously approved.
  • The group discussed upcoming events during Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM), including a Virtual Book Club highlighting authors and a podcaster who share their experiences of recovery, National Gambling Disorder Screening Day, a calendar that will go up on the state website of events all around the state, a SMART Alert, press release, proclamation, discussion at the 03/10/2021 Illinois Gaming Board of Directors meeting, and conference being held 3/29-3/30 in collaboration between several state providers.
  • The committee reviewed sample reports from the Illinois Youth Survey, which in 2020 included questions about gambling. Discussion surrounded the kinds of questions asked and concerns they may not adequately reflect the way youth gamble or understand gambling. A workgroup will be formed to review previous questions (that Kellie Gage will seek to obtain) which were asked some years ago on the survey, research that has been done on youth gambling, and consider recommendations for future survey questions. It was discussed that first defining the scope of what will be considered gambling behavior, will be important. Dr. Catherine McNealy and Rodney Walker both expressed interest in participating in the workgroup. How workgroup meetings will be held and documented will be verified prior to occurring, to ensure adherence to Open Meetings Act.
  • Other potential recommendations for 2021 and workgroups that can make tentative recommendations in specific areas were discussed. One or both co-chairs will be part of each workgroup:
    • Developing guidelines for counselors providing written affidavits for individuals seeking removal from the Illinois Voluntary Self Exclusion Program (VSEP) was discussed. The lack of uniformity in how counselors determine whether or not to provide an affidavit was contrasted to another important process (ex. DUI Evaluations). Elizabeth expressed interest in being in this work group, as did Gene O'Shea and Catherine McNeilly. It was stressed that other counselors who are eligible to provide such affidavits could provide valuable input. Elizabeth stated she would look into contact information for the counselors with PCGC or ICGC credentials to invite them to participate in the workgroup.
    • Gambling advertising, how it displays helpline information, and the extent to which it occurs in programming targeted to minors is a topic that will be examined by another workgroup. Dr. Lewis and Anita Pindiur offered to work on this workgroup.
    • Training for criminal justice professionals, including screening that can be administered to court-involved and incarcerated individuals, will be another workgroup. Rodney Walker and Robert Stockham both expressed an interest in being on the workgroup.
  • Gene provided an update regarding the Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program. There continue to be internal discussions regarding progress towards a VSEP for video gaming terminals. He shared that a recent individual seeking removal from the list was found to have forged their affidavit, stressing the need for safeguards in the process.
  • Dr.'s Carliner and Wolff provided an update regarding the Gambling Needs Assessment in Illinois, reporting that postcards have gone out to the random sampling; targeted surveys will begin soon (following final IRB approval); discussions and focus groups are in progress, then more qualitative discussions will occur related to gambling attitudes, lived experiences, barriers to help, stigma, etc. Social media posts may be utilized to broaden the invitation for affected Illinoisans to share their input. Dr. Lewis shared other strategies that have worked in her groups' data collection efforts.
  • The next meeting will be held Friday, March 26, 2021 10:30 am.