Who we are:
We are a volunteer-driven 501(c)3 nonprofit committed to working with other organizations and individuals to reduce problem gambling and its impact on Maine’s individuals, families, and communities. We advocate for problem gambling awareness, prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery in Maine. We are the Maine State Affiliate to the National Council on Problem Gambling.
We are gambling neutral. We are neither for nor against legal gambling. Gambling can be a fun source of entertainment, but when it’s no longer fun, or it extends past someone’s entertainment budget, we want people to know how to get help, and that treatment works.
What we do:
- Serve as the authority and thought leader on problem gambling and responsible gambling in Maine.
- Run awareness campaigns to increase visibility, reduce stigma, and connect to support services and resources.
- Serve in an advisory capacity for problem gambling services in Maine.
- Participate in regional and national problem gambling activities.
- Raise awareness about the risks of youth gambling.
- Collaborate with community partners through education and prevention programs.
- Support treatment and recovery options for individuals experiencing gambling harm, their families, and affected others.
- Encourage research on problem gambling in Maine.
- Help build capacity of Maine’s medical and behavioral healthcare workforce to recognize, screen, and connect to treatment and support services.
- Collaborate with peer recovery communities (recovery-based meetings, peer coaching, etc.).
- Build capacity for important stakeholders (clergy, public health professionals, educators, legislators, etc.) to share information about and to shape policy with gambling initiatives.
- Promote tools for adults to engage in responsible gambling.
- Support a confidential self-exclusion program allowing individuals to opt out of gambling for a chosen period of time.
- Build partnerships with others who care about reducing the harm of gambling in Maine.
What we want people to know:
- All forms of gambling, and gambling-related activities can lead to problem gambling or gambling disorder.
- Gambling can become addictive and can co-occur with other mental health and substance use disorders.
- There are many types of gambling, including: lottery, casinos, card games, sports betting, Bingo, charitable raffles, horse racing, and online gambling.
- There are many activities with gambling elements that can also lead to problems, such as: day trading, cryptocurrency, prediction markets, video game loot boxes, and collecting.
- Gambling problems affect not just the gambler, but also their families, friends, employers, and community.
- Youth have an increased risk of gambling addiction because their brain is still developing.
- Research indicates that children who are exposed to or participate in gambling are at a greater risk of developing gambling problems later in life.
How to get involved:
- Contact us to host a Problem Gambling 101 session or set up a resource table for your group or event. It’s provided at no cost.
- Work on a project with us.
- Join the board. We meet via Zoom once a month to share updates, provide feedback, and make a difference.
- Share your expertise and assist us with social media, marketing, accounting, development, advocacy, and more!
- Order free brochures and flyers from the Maine Prevention Store to raise awareness in your workplace, club, church, etc.
- Send a donation to support our work.
