Gambling can be addictive. Gaming capitals and the states they reside in get accustomed to the easy money, but for individual gamblers it can be as corrosive an addiction as there is. The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey is now taking on the stigma of internet gambling addiction, more closeted, but no less costly than losing it all in a casino. The council’s Executive Director Donald Weinbaum told NJTV News Anchor Mary Alice Williams that the council’s goal is to get the information about gambling addiction out throughout the state so people who need help with this addiction can get it.
Weinbaum said that the council’s website hits are up 130 percent since online gambling was legalized in New Jersey. He said that hits are from people seeking information and people seeking help. The council’s website provides downloadable information. He said that there have also been more calls to the hotline and more people are mentioning internet gambling during their phone calls.
Weinbaum said that there are a number of aspects that make online gambling unique, including the fast pace of the play and the fact that it can be played at home, anytime and anyplace. He said that makes it unnecessary to drive to make the trip to the casino. He said the people who gamble online engage in it more often and for those who are most at risk, they are engaging in online gambling even more.
The council has set up a self-exclusion program where people sign up to restrict their access to gambling in a casino or online. Weinbaum said that more people are signing up for the program. He said there are 400 to 500 people who have signed up for the internet only self exclusion program.
Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey is launching a new advertising campaign that Weinbaum said is about to be rolled out. He said that the message is that there is help available for people across New Jersey and there is hope. He said that he encourages people to find out more about what gambling addiction is. He said that the American Psychiatric Association, in the last year, has identified gambling as the first non-substance related addiction.
He said that a gambling addiction has similarities and differences to a drug and alcohol addictions. According to Weinbaum, people often do not think that there is help available for gambling addiction, but the addiction follows a progressive route so the earlier the intervention, the better it is. He said that his goal is to get information out across the state.
Weinbaum said that just yesterday, there was a stigma summit hosted by Gov. Chris Christie and the council was there. He said that people don’t think about the stigma involved with gambling addiction but it is something that keeps people from reaching out for help. He said that the council is trying to change that and is trying to get the word out in communities around New Jersey.
For more information, visit the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey website or call 1-800-GAMBLER.