Addabbo Hosts Zoom Discussion Regarding Problem Gambling and Gambling Disorder

In observance of March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month and March 12th as Gambling Disorder Screening Day, Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. will be hosting a virtual discussion via Zoom on March 12, 2024. The event aims to educate the public on problem gambling, provide information on available support services, and foster connections with organizations that can help.

The discreet meeting will allow participants to remain anonymous and will be presented in collaboration with the New York Council on Problem Gambling and Resorts World NYC Casino, with support from the National Council on Problem Gambling. The primary goal of the discussion is to promote a better understanding of gambling addiction as a medical issue that requires examination as a disease, emphasizing the importance of education and support in addressing this issue.

As the Chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Racing, Gaming, and Wagering, Senator Addabbo recognized the two-year anniversary of mobile sports wagering in New York State on January 8, 2024. Through January 7, the total mobile sports wagering handle reached $35.7 billion and generated a total net revenue to education of $1.57 billion.

Despite the positive revenue impact, Senator Addabbo remains mindful of the unintended consequences associated with gambling and is committed to addressing these issues. While the initial mobile sports betting statute included an additional $6 million annually for problem gambling programs, Addabbo recently introduced legislation (S.8439) to increase the related program funding to the greater of 1% of the tax revenue or the $6 million.

“For some, gaming is a casual pastime, but for others it becomes all-consuming, and they need help,” Addabbo said. “As the Chairman of the NYS Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, I believe I have a responsibility to bring this event to the community for the public good and will always consider the issue of problem gambling a high priority when safely expanding gaming in New York. If we can help individuals from taking this preventable trip down the road to self-destruction, especially through early detection, then we have accomplished something important.”

The discussion will also be interactive as esteemed guest speaker, Prof. David Nutt, Director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences at the Imperial College of London, and one of the world’s leading experts on addiction, according to the BBC and the University of Bath, will display brain scans that show illuminations of certain parts of the brain before, during, and after placing a bet. He showed this experiment on a news program of the BBC demonstrating by using an individual in an MRI machine whose brain function was monitored while playing a virtual version of roulette.

“I am delighted to have this opportunity to share our research on the brain mechanisms underpinning gambling addiction as they will help explain why it is so hard to break its grip and hopefully lead to new treatments,” Professor Nutt said. 

2 million adults in the U.S. meet severe gambling criteria each year, according to the National Council on Problem Gaming and another 4 to 6 million American adults have mild or moderate problems. 4.3% of adult residents in New York State are experiencing problems related to their gambling activity (over 600,000 adults), according to the NYCPG.

Other topics of discussion at the event will be voluntary self-exclusion, signs of addiction, screening for gambling disorder, S.E.E. It – Support Educate and Engage to Reduce Gambling Harm, which is the NYCPG’s theme this year and “Every Story Matters,” which is the National Council on Problem Gambling’s theme this year, so recovering addicts will share their stories of hope.

Addabbo is encouraging individuals to join him on March 12, 2024, for this important virtual discussion, as he seeks to work with others to raise awareness and provide support for individuals affected by problem gambling.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86791905653?pwd=TFN4RVZNVlZETEp2UG5QZlhVNmtVUT09

Meeting ID: 867 9190 5653

Passcode: 874928

---

One tap mobile

+19294362866,,86791905653#,,,,*874928# US (New York)

+16469313860,,86791905653#,,,,*874928# US

---

Dial by your location

• +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)

• +1 646 931 3860 US

• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

• +1 305 224 1968 US

• +1 309 205 3325 US

• +1 689 278 1000 US

• +1 719 359 4580 US

• +1 253 205 0468 US

• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

• +1 360 209 5623 US

• +1 386 347 5053 US

• +1 507 473 4847 US

• +1 564 217 2000 US

• +1 669 444 9171 US

• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 867 9190 5653

Passcode: 874928

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kuUPZdAJa