Jun 18, 2025 | PROFESSIONALS
The International Gambling Counselor Certification Board (IGCCB) changed its name to the International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organization (IPGGC) in December 2024 to better reflect its expanded mission and scope. This rebranding acknowledges the growing convergence between gambling and gaming behaviors and the need for specialized training and certification in both areas.
The organization, established in 1984, initially focused solely on gambling-related certifications. However, with the recognition of gaming disorder by the World Health Organization and the increasing prevalence of gaming-related issues, the IPGGC now offers certifications that encompass both gambling and gaming disorders. These include the International Certified Gambling Counselor (ICGC) credentials and the International Gaming Disorder Certificate (IGDC), among others.
By updating its name, the IPGGC aims to provide clearer guidance to professionals and the public, ensuring that those affected by gambling and gaming disorders receive support from certified experts trained in current best practices across both domains.
Jun 18, 2025 | ABOUT MNAPG
Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM) is a national campaign that takes place every March to increase public awareness of problem gambling and the availability of prevention, treatment and recovery services. It’s organized by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) in collaboration with state affiliates, healthcare providers and community organizations.
MNAPG communicated these important messages through a series of articles, emails and ads. We’re pleased to report that our 2025 PGAM efforts were the most extensive in our history, reaching more people than ever before. Some metrics highlighting this effort include:
- Total traffic to the MNAPG website was up 68% this past March compared to March 2024.
- There were approximately 75,000 MNAPG website views in March.
- In partnership with the Star Tribune, a four-email campaign resulted in more than 180,000 opens and more than 24,000 clicks.
- A native article in the Star Tribune (a form of advertising that’s designed to blend seamlessly with the content of a website or publication) had 1.3 million impressions (the number of times a piece of content is displayed to a user) and 3,201 clicks.
- A display ad on the Star Tribune website had nearly 3 million impressions and was clicked nearly 4,500 times.
- PGAM-related ads placed on Google Ads had 68,000 impressions and nearly 1,000 clicks.
- An email and ad placed in The Phoenix Spirit produced approximately 15,000 website visits.
- A public service announcement had 20 million impressions and was viewed 8.9 million times.
- MNAPG was featured on MPR News with Angela Davis on March 17.
Beyond these analytics, the important message is that we’re reaching more and more people, and educating them about gambling addiction.
Jun 18, 2025 | PROBLEM GAMBLING, RECOVERY, STORIES
I was seven the first time I gambled. We were visiting my grandmother, and the older ladies in her building taught me how to play rummy—for nickels. We played for six hours, and by the end of the night, I’d taken all their money. I remember asking my parents the next day when I could gamble with them again.
There was a lot happening at home around that time. My sister’s teenage pregnancy caused constant tension and uncertainty. Playing cards with my grandmother gave me a break from the chaos.
When I turned 18, I went to the local casino with friends and my dad. I blew through my paycheck in minutes. My dad handed me $50 for my birthday so I could keep playing. I ended up winning some money back. That was cool.
Later, after dropping out of college because I felt homesick and unsure of what I wanted, I became a blackjack dealer. I discovered a benefit for employees—you could cash your paycheck for free at the casino. On payday, I’d often stick around until I either lost everything or doubled my money.
Poker was growing in popularity then, and I got good at it. I played tournaments around the Midwest and would often stay and play more poker or blackjack afterward.
Not long after, I began experiencing serious depression. Doctors gave me different diagnoses, and I was eventually labeled bipolar. I went through intensive rehab for depression.
I got married and moved to Minneapolis, but we didn’t stay long. We returned to rural life, and I got another job at a casino. About a year into the marriage, my husband relapsed after drug treatment. I flushed his drugs down the toilet, and he tried to choke me. A coworker helped me pack up and leave.
I kept working at the casino, but my mental health didn’t improve. Looking back, I can see how gambling highs lifted me way up, and losses sank me just as hard. I attempted suicide multiple times.
After years in and out of treatment, I finally stopped going to casinos. I met my current husband and went several years without the compulsion to gamble. I could even go to a casino with friends or my husband and be responsible.
A year into our marriage, I had my first daughter. I struggled with postpartum depression and soon realized that being a stay-at-home mom wasn’t for me—I needed more social interaction. I started going to the casino in the evenings, just to get out of the house.
Eventually, I took a job as a program coordinator for a home health company. I was working 60 to 70 hours a week, often leaving before my daughter woke up and coming home after she was asleep.
A year later, I got pregnant again. My son was born with a heart condition and passed away a week after birth. That sent me into a tailspin. I didn’t want to go back to work. I went on extended medical leave and returned to therapy.
After my sessions, I’d often go to the casino. That’s when my husband first voiced concern. He asked me to talk to my therapist about it—but I didn’t.
I got another job and became pregnant again. Despite everything, I still found reasons to go to the casino. I opened a separate bank account so my husband couldn’t see how much I was spending—or losing. He started to worry about our finances.
About three years ago, I lied to my husband so I could spend the day gambling. I stayed at the casino for 14 hours, lost everything in our accounts and maxed out all of our credit cards, including the ones he didn’t know about. That night, I realized this was more than depression. I remembered hearing the term “compulsive gambling” when I worked at casinos but had never imagined it applied to me. I even called the 800 number posted on the casino door—but hung up when someone finally answered.
A few weeks later, my husband found a W-2G form showing gambling winnings I hadn’t told him about. He started asking more questions about our finances. I still didn’t tell him I had drained our 401(k) or spent $29,000 worth of insurance checks we got for roof repairs as gambling money. I thought I could double it. I didn’t.
I kept losing. Then one night, before heading out, I wrote my husband a letter telling him everything. I left it on the counter with our credit cards and checking info. I told him I’d understand if he didn’t want to try anymore.
He read the letter after putting our kids to bed. He called me and told me to come home so we could talk. It was the longest night of my life. I felt like the worst person in the world.
That Sunday, I went to my first GA meeting. We researched treatment options and found the Vanguard Center for Gambling Recovery 30 miles away. I called them the next day and signed up.
I completed a 30-day inpatient program. It was the hardest and best thing I’ve ever done—especially being away from my kids with only limited contact.
Since then, I haven’t gambled. I attend two to three GA meetings a week and stay connected with others in recovery. I even went to the first international GA conference since COVID. I’ve found peace among people who understand what I’ve been through.
Now, life is boring—and that’s a good thing. Boring means peace, stability, and being present for my family.
Jun 18, 2025 | ABOUT MNAPG
Emerging adults—those in the 18-29 age group—are at particular risk for developing an addiction to gambling for various reasons. Historically, this population has been challenging to reach for those wanting to communicate prevention and awareness messages.
Recognizing the importance of educating young adults, MNAPG is intensifying its outreach by developing a new webpage tailored to this audience. We are also focusing on three key groups:
- athletes and athletic directors
- campus counselors and student health center staff
- Emerging adults—18-29-year olds
Look for updates on our progress in future issues of Northern Light.
Figure. Displays the five features involved in the DCE. The left-most column lists the specific features and the middle-left column describes each feature. The columns on the right show examples of two hypothetical online poker sites with opposing features (Option A and Option B). During the experiment, participants selected the operator who appealed more to them based on their differing features. Click image to enlarge.
Why do these findings matter?
The findings from this study suggest that government-regulated poker sites are generally more appealing to online poker players compared to sites without such regulation, and so regulation might be important for the future health of the poker industry. However, it is also important to note that this study was conducted before recent changes to U.S. federal gambling regulations. For example, bettors can no longer deduct all of their gambling losses from their taxes. With fears of taxation a primary detractor to the value of government regulation, it is unclear how this legislation might affect the perceived value of government regulated gambling going forward.
Every study has limitations. What are the limitations in this study?
This study focused on online poker players and thus may not be generalizable to the wider population of people who gamble. Notably, previous studies suggest that poker players may differ from other gambling populations on a number of factors. This study was also unable to acquire a representative sample (i.e., higher stakes bettors comprising an outsized proportion of the sample) that might have biased the results.
________________
1. The researchers conducted two prior qualitative studies to inform the development of the final DCE.
2. For micro-stakes games, the big blind can be as high as $0.50. Small-stakes big blinds are between $0.50 and $2.00 and middle-stakes big blinds are between $2.00 and $10.00.