Welcome to the second part of our 2016 review, where we will list the final five moments that stood out for the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. If you haven’t read part one yet, click HERE to catch up.
Without further ado, here are the top five gambling-related topics, moments and events that happened this year:
- Illegal Sports Betting – Did you know that 46 states have outlawed sports betting? Do you know somebody who bets on sports? Do they live in the 92% of America where it is illegal to gamble on sports? #FoodForThought
Something to consider: When people are illegally betting on sports around Monmouth and Atlantic City, NJ, they often accrue unpayable debts. Since there is no regulation on the industry, and it is run via street justice, there’s no consequence that is off-limits.
- Is Gambling a Trick or Treat? (Halloween Edition) – “The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey is serious and informative, but we also feel that is it necessary to be fun and entertaining during special occasions like the holidays,” said Neva Pryor, Executive Director of the CCGNJ.
In our October blog, we create a narrative that shows the pros and cons of gambling. So, is gambling a trick or a treat? I guess you’ll have to read our blog to find out!
- CCGNJ’s Award-Winning Short Film – We take pride in everything we do, but our short film, “Break Even,” was one of our favorite things of 2016. From the moment we saw the video that OutreachArts had created for us, we knew we were a part of something special – something moving. The short film won a Communicator Award of Excellence, which is humbling considering over 6,000 entries were submitted to the 22nd Annual Communicator Awards.
Click HERE to view “Break Even.”
- Neva Pryor Appears on Atlantic Morning Show – In March, which is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, our very own Neva Pryor was featured as a guest on Harry Hurley’s “Hurley in the Morning” talk show on WPG 1450. The goal was to raise awareness about problem gambling in New Jersey, and judging by the amount of people we’ve helped this year, it was quite the successful conversation.
Last, but not least…
#1 – The 34th Annual New Jersey Gambling Conference – Thirty-four years and counting! This year was our best yet, with over 150 guests from all walks of life. Pretty fitting, especially since the 2016 theme was “Gambling From a Multicultural Perspective.” We had an incredible keynote speaker, Dr. Deborah G. Haskins, Ph.D., LCPC, NCGC-II, who gave the audience a detailed look into the similarities and differences of gambling within a variety of cultures.
The event’s plenary speaker, Mayumi Okuda Benavides, M.D., dropped some eye-opening facts such as:
- Over 42% of the 562 Native American tribes in the US engage in gambling operations. (Native Americans run over 400 casinos throughout 28 states.)
- Minorities constitute approximately 33% of the entire population and are expected to become the majority in the United States by 2050.
The constant theme over the years is clear: HOPE. No matter your situation, there are measures that can be taken to improve your life one day at a time. As the community invests more time, money and effort into research and treatment methods, more and more people are becoming armed with useful information that will assist in kicking unwanted habits.
We are truly grateful for everything we have and everybody we’ve met – which you know if you’ve read our special Thanksgiving-themed blog about gratitude.
To learn more about the resources we have readily available, call 1-800-GAMBLER today. From illegal sports betting on events in the Meadowlands area of NJ to addictions to slot machines and video games across the Tri-State area, 800Gambler.org is here to help.
Have a happy and healthy 2017!
Sincerely,
-The CCGNJ