The Council on Compulsive Gambling of NJ (Council) is a private non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization whose primary purpose is to represent the best interest of disordered gamblers and their families, recognizing that problem or disordered gambling is a treatable illness. One of the focuses that the Council maintains is referring those struggling with this addiction and their families in treatment, and advocating for increased services for those struggling and their families. Treatment can come in many forms. First, the Council in partnership with the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), offers a voluntary self-exclusion option. This option allows for the individual to be removed from casino marketing lists as well as banning play either online or in person making this a very useful tool. More information on this can be found on the DGE’s website. Another option available to residents of New Jersey is the ability to be referred to a Certified Compulsive Gambling Counsellor for one-on-one sessions. Additionally, for situations that are more severe, an individual may be referred to an in-patient facility located within the state. These services are located throughout New Jersey with the single goal of providing hope and help to gamblers struggling with an addiction to this insidious and baffling disease. More information is available by calling our helpline at 800-GAMBLER and asking for a list of treatment providers.
Information and Resources
The Council continually provides up to date information and resources on its website, www.800gambler.org. The Council works to continually create awareness among the general public as well as providing Support, Treatment, and Hope for problem gamblers. To this end, brochures and fact sheets are maintained covering topics such as senior, teen, or adolescent gambling, domestic violence, self-exclusion and problem gambling in the military to name a handful. We feel it is important for the various demographics to find information specific to them to help get the conversation started and to let them know they are not alone in battling this addiction. Another goal of providing up to date information is to provide education to the professionals in NJ helping and assisting problem or disordered gamblers along their path of recovery. This is accomplished through the use of updated training materials, links to professional sites dealing with addiction, and information on mini-grant opportunities for which professionals can work to spread awareness around this disease. More information can be found by calling our confidential helpline at 800-GAMBLER or by visiting us on the web at www.800gambler.org.
