March is Problem Gambling Awareness month, and the Michigan Lottery has joined the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) to help increase public awareness of problem gambling and highlight the availability of prevention, treatment and recovery services in the state of Michigan.
As Problem Gambling Awareness Month begins, Lottery continues to remind players that the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline is available to provide free, one-on-one support for players who may have a problem. For confidential help 24 hours a day, seven days a week, players may call 800-270-7117. Chat and text options also are available through www.michiganlottery.com.
Each year, the Lottery provides $1 million to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to fund statewide education and treatment programs for problem gambling. Additionally, the Lottery’s online services include enhanced responsible gaming resources including:
- A variety of self-exclusion periods
- Daily and weekly deposit Limits
- Age verification at account registration
- Play history to monitor gaming activity
You may learn more about the warning signs of problem gaming, here: http://bit.ly/2lSge1e.
Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has been committed to promoting responsible gaming to players across the state. In 2015, the Michigan Lottery became the first lottery in the United States to receive Internet Compliance Assessment Program (iCAP) certification from the NCPG for its commitment to responsible online gaming. Michigan Lottery has also received the Responsible Gaming Verification (RG Verification) certification from the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries and the NCPG. Select the following links to learn more about the iCAP program or RG Verification program.
For the Wisconsin Lottery, responsible gaming is at the heart of every part of the organization. During March, the Lottery will team up with the National Council on Problem Gambling and the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling (WCPG) to participate in the 20th annual Problem Gambling Awareness Month.
Problem Gambling Awareness Month is a grassroots effort that brings together a wide range of stakeholders – public health organizations, advocacy groups, and gambling operators – who work collaboratively to inform people that prevention, treatment, and recovery services are available.
“Across Wisconsin during Problem Gambling Awareness Month, the WCPG is committing to making sure the public understands what the signs of problem gambling are and most importantly, the resources that are available to get help,” said Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling Executive Director Rose Blozinski. “We appreciate the partnership we have with the WI Lottery in providing assistance to people who are affected by gambling disorders. ”
“A national effort is incredibly important for stakeholders across the gaming industry to come together and echo the message that help is available,” said Wisconsin Director Cindy Polzin
The Lottery multi-media problem gambling campaign will include Lottoview video messaging and poster placement at more than 3,600 Wisconsin retailers. In addition, coverage involves:
- Powerful radio spots throughout the state and on the Lottery YouTube channel.
- Print ads in community publications.
- Social media posts reaching more than a combined 65,000 followers.
- Players Club newsletter stories distributed to more than 57,000 members.
- A digital banner on WIlottery.com.
Each layer of Wisconsin strategy observes National Problem Gambling Awareness Month as well as promotes the problem gambling helplines, text numbers, and the WCPG website. Help is available at 1-800-GAMBLE-5 or 1-800-426-2535. Online chatting and texting (850-888-4673) are also available. Calling, online chatting, and texting is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Lottery is proud of its long-standing relationship with the WCPG. In fact, the Lottery and the WCPG have worked together for more than a decade with the Lottery committing over $4.2 million toward responsible gambling education. In 2021, the Lottery and WCPG’s problem gambling campaign – “It’s Not So Easy To Hide” was honored by the National American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries with a Batchy Award. The Batchy Award is considered among the highest honors a North American Lottery can receive in print, video, radio, and electronic media.
The Lottery also funds four yearly $150 scholarships for the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling’s Annual Statewide Conference. These scholarships provide conference registrations for people who might otherwise not be able to attend. This year’s conference is being held March 17-18, 2022, at the Milwaukee Marriott West.
Routinely, the Lottery posts or prints WCPG hotline and text messages on Lottoview displays, game brochures, point of sales pieces, and on Lottery tickets.
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