A Message from the Executive Director
In Our 40th Year, CCGNJ Programs
and Services are Needed More than Ever
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The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc. (CCGNJ) is approaching its 40th anniversary and never have our services been more needed. The advent of online gambling and sports betting allows 24/7 access to gambling, and gambling outlets entice people to bet with a wide variety of promotions. As a result, the past few years have been marked by a significant increase in problem gambling. Our four decades as a non-profit dedicated to providing information, education and referral services for people affected by a gambling problem make us uniquely qualified to meet this growing challenge. Since our inception, our primary purpose has been to represent the best interest of problem and disordered gamblers and their families, recognizing that problem gambling is a treatable condition.
The perfect storm of online gambling access compounded by the constant stream of gambling ads has left an increasing number of New Jersey residents with a gambling disorder, but few of those affected seek help. Their reluctance to look for assistance stems largely from their being too embarrassed to tell anyone. Gambling disorder has been called “the hidden addiction” because physical signs are not present like those seen with a drug or alcohol problem (for more on "The Hidden Addiction" please go to: Hidden Addiction). You can’t see it or smell it. And it is usually recognized only after it is too late.
Gambling addiction affects every age group, from teens to seniors, and the entire socio-economic strata, including the homeless, the incarcerated, firefighters and police officers, business owners, educators, legal and medical professionals and government officials.
Over the years, we’ve heard thousands of sad stories of people affected by a gambling disorder. From a father who gambled in an effort to supplement his children’s college fund for which the family painstakingly saved over decades, only to lose it all, to an elderly woman seeking to escape the pain of losing her husband by playing solitaire online, which eventually morphed into online gambling sites, where she lost her $400k nest egg. While these are only a few examples, thousands of people are experiencing tragedies like these every day.
Disordered gambling ruins families, careers and credit scores. It ruins lives - of the gambler and their loved ones. But there is hope.
The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey is here to listen and educate the public about gambling disorder and to provide referrals for treatment and related support groups. If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem, please give us a call at 1-800-GAMBLER and continue to check out our website, www.800gambler.org. We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Make the call – visit us. It’s time to change your life.
Warm Regards –
Felicia Grondin, MPA, CPM
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CCGNJ's Grondin Briefs Assembly Panel
on Factors in Gambling 'Perfect Storm'
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The Assembly Tourism, Gaming, and the Arts Committee invited the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey to provide testimony about the state’s surge of gambling and its consequences. During a May 9 informational session before the Committee, CCGNJ Executive Director Felicia Grondin reviewed the Council’s history of confronting disordered gambling and then outlined how online betting and a cascade of advertising have created a “social epidemic” that jeopardizes families’ savings, impacting everything from children’s college funds to seniors’ retirement savings.
Committee Chairman Ralph Caputo (Dem., District 28) welcomed the presentation as a long-overdue opportunity to have a detailed discussion of the issues gambling creates. He said that the focus of the expansion of gambling has been almost exclusively on the tax revenue it generates for the state while overlooking its social costs. Chairman Caputo disparaged the gambling industry’s incessant flow of advertising as “obscene.”
The Legislature invited CCGNJ as a recognized authority on gambling whose expertise derives from nearly 40 years of helping residents with a gambling problem and developing prevention programs. The Council’s mission centers on increasing awareness through prevention and educational programs, providing problem gambling training to treatment professionals, and operating the 800-GAMBLER Helpline.
Sports gambling in particular has contributed to the emerging “social epidemic.” The Council’s 800-GAMBLER Helpline has seen a dramatic uptick in calls since 2013, when online gambling started, and especially since 2018’s advent of legalized sports gambling. The total amount wagered on sports gambling in the past four years exceeds $25 billion.
In addition to expanded access to sports betting through apps, the gambling industry in recent years has bombarded the market with advertising. As an example, from 2020 to 2021, the amount spent on television gambling ads increased 2 ½ times, from $292 million to $725 million, according to Barron’s Magazine. So abundant are gambling ads that they have been labeled “predatory advertising.”
This combination of access to gambling apps and advertising has produced an environment in which problem gambling will devastate the finances of many more individuals and families, ruining careers, credit scores and lives. It is especially concerning since there is a 20 percent suicide rate for people with a gambling disorder, the highest of any addiction.
In her testimony, Ms. Grondin offered several possible solutions to address problem gambling and curtail the volume of ads. These include developing Public Service Announcements sponsored by the state; limiting gambling advertising, similar to how alcohol commercials have been regulated; and requiring warning labels about the potential addictive nature of gambling on online gambling sites and at brick and mortar casinos, akin to the Surgeon General’s warning that appears on cigarette packaging. From a fiscal standpoint, the state could earmark additional funding to help address the emerging epidemic.
The Assembly presentation featured a video by HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumble titled “Show Me the Money,” which included information by CCGNJ. The video explores gambling’s increased role throughout sports, including how most stadiums and arenas now have betting facilities on the premises. As a cautionary tale to the United States, the video illustrates how gambling has permeated all aspects of English soccer, with betting industry sponsorship of many of the top teams. The video profiled the worst possible fallout of this issue, interviewing the mother and the girlfriend of a 25-year-old man whose gambling debt drove him to commit suicide.
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Survey by CCGNJ Takes Measure
of State's Increased Gambling
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The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) has released findings from its new statewide survey on gambling prevalence, which include indications that inflation may drive people to gamble with the hope of keeping up with rising costs. CCGNJ’s survey was emailed to 1,002 New Jersey residents from May 15 to June 8, with demographics reflecting the state’s population, with a 3.1 percent margin of error.
The statewide survey was undertaken in response to gambling’s growing presence in the state, and the worsening toll gambling is taking on New Jersey individuals and families. Online betting apps, sportsbook, excessive gambling advertising and promotions collectively entice people to gamble and to bet beyond their means. Nearly 3 in 10 survey respondents (28 percent) indicated that easy access to betting apps strongly influenced their betting.
A mounting concern is that the recent rise in inflation will lead more people to gamble in an attempt to supplement their income. The survey explored this issue and found that 15 percent of respondents consider betting-related activities to be a major source of their monthly income. The percentages are markedly higher for people between the ages of 21 and 39: more than one in three (36 percent) of people in their 20s indicated gambling is a major source of their earnings, as compared to one in four (25 percent) of individuals in their 30s .
In May, Felicia Grondin, CCGNJ Executive Director, testified before the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee where she detailed the increase in gambling in New Jersey. During the session, Ms. Grondin attributed the betting uptick to easy access via gambling apps coupled with a growing volume of gambling advertisements. Overall, gambling has become commonplace and a frequent activity in our society, she said. One example is the regular use of betting terms such as “the spread” and “over-under” during sporting event broadcasts.
Gambling has seen a significant increase since the onset of online gambling in 2013 and sports betting in 2018. Ms. Grondin said, “The social costs of gambling are rising at an alarming rate. We conducted this poll to get a sense of the extent of problem gambling in New Jersey and identify which populations are most affected. We are heartened to see broad support of the concept of placing limits on gambling ads and including warning labels at gambling properties and online sites.”
Seven in 10 respondents agree that a warning label, akin to those required for tobacco products, should appear on all gambling apps, websites, and brick-and-mortar betting locations, while 6 in 10 (59 percent) believe that gambling advertising should be subject to federal and/or state regulation.
CCGNJ cautions that a sign of problem gambling occurs when a person exceeds the betting limit they may set for themselves. One in four New Jersey adults (24 percent) indicated they bet more than they intended. Nearly half (46 percent) ‘chased’ their losses, meaning they bet more in an attempt to recoup gambling losses, which can trigger spiraling losses and desperation. The survey also examined betting frequency, with nearly half (47 percent) reporting they gamble once a week or more, including 8 percent who bet daily.
Another key finding is that a large majority - 8 in 10 residents (82 percent) - agree that gambling can become an addiction similar to drugs and alcohol.
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At the official announcement of 800-GAMBLER becoming a national helpline for problem gamblers are (from left), Felicia Grondin, Executive Director of CCGNJ, Fred Hogan, Board President of CCGNJ, Alice Ostapiuk, CCGNJ Office Manager, and Keith White, Executive Director of NCPG. The announcement was made on July 20 at NCPG's annual conference in Boston. |
CCGNJ Lease of 800-GAMBLER
to NCPG Establishes National Helpline
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The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) recently entered into a six-year license agreement with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc. (CCGNJ) for the use of their 1-800-GAMBLER® federally registered service mark in all U.S. states outside of New Jersey, as well as all U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. The agreement, which was officially announced on July 20 at NCPG’s Annual Conference, marks a major milestone in NCPG’s effort to reduce barriers to essential resources for those affected by problem gambling.
“CCGNJ has always been at the forefront of providing support for people in communities affected by a gambling problem. 1-800-GAMBLER® serves as an essential tool for accessing this support,” said Felicia Grondin, CCGNJ Executive Director. “We look forward to working with NCPG to ensure that people from across the country can easily access problem gambling support and resources using this simple, memorable number."
“This agreement is a vital step forward as we work to increase awareness and access services for individuals, families, and communities impacted by problem gambling," said Maureen Greeley NCPG Board President. “With collaboration as one of our core values, we are grateful for this partnership with our NCPG Affiliate, CCGNJ, that will significantly advance our shared priorities of improving health and wellness by offering the most effective programs and services possible.”
“Our goal is simple, to continue to make sure 1-800-GAMBLER® provides aid to anyone who needs it as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Fred W. Hogan CCGNJ Board President. “We look forward to sharing our strength and experience.”
Today's announcement builds on NCPG’s multi-year National Problem Gambling Helpline Modernization Project. The project, supported by a grant received from the National Football League Foundation (NFLF) in 2021, will improve call center technology, data collection, and reporting, as well as upgrade criteria and offer standardized training and certification for call centers across the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network.
“Since its inception in 1995, the National Problem Gambling Helpline has seen exponential growth in calls, texts and chat messages for help from individuals across the country as gambling has continued to expand,” said Keith Whyte, NCPG Executive Director. “The Modernization Project will allow us to make significant improvements to the operations, technology and infrastructure of the network to keep up with the ever-growing need for problem gambling resources.”
The current National Problem Gambling Helpline Network number (1-800-522-4700) and 1-800-GAMBLER® will continue to operate uninterrupted as will the current routing of helpline calls. In the coming months, NCPG will work closely with CCGNJ, state affiliates, and helpline call centers to ensure a smooth transition and prevent any gaps in services as adjustments are made in the National Helpline Number and Network.
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Man Finds Riches in Recovery
Following Emotional, Financial Bankruptcy
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Not quite a dozen years ago, Rocco C. reached a hard-won awareness of what it takes to cultivate a fulfilling, joyful existence. He also became vigilant to keep the seeds of destruction from taking root. Since his awakening, Rocco has nurtured a rewarding and generous life in recovery from problem gambling, taking care never to let down his guard with the one threat he admits scares him: the specter of slipping back into gambling.
Rocco’s early memories of gambling involve a few family members who were horseplayers. When they visited his house, it was usually to ask his father for money. That memory of relatives looking for a loan so they could place more bets on the ponies did not deter Rocco from gambling; his first betting foray was with a game called Joker Poker, and before long he was visiting Atlantic City casinos.
An early telltale of what was in store for Rocco occurred in his late teens. His car needed new tires and, with $50 in his wallet, he decided a visit to Atlantic City would leave him with enough winnings for new tires and then some. It did not go as he pictured, as his early winnings soon evaporated and he chased his losses, only to lose more. As for his car, he’d be putting more miles on his already worn tires.
In his early 20s, he entered a career in corrections, working long shifts on Ryker’s Island. It was not uncommon for him to log 16-hour days, and in his first year made a tremendous amount of money for a young, single man. He rewarded himself for those long hours at Ryker’s with trips to Atlantic City. By the year’s end, Rocco had next to nothing to show for all that overtime.
Rocco continued to gamble in an off and on pattern. He was captivated by the casinos, which he thought of as an adult playground. He recalls that as long as he was at the tables placing bets, a casino’s dealers and servers treated him well, calling him “Mr. C.” That lasted until his losses caught up with him. Then, casino staff would address him quite differently, as in, “Mister, can you step away from the table so somebody else can play."
When he as young, still in his 20s, his gambling reached a point of deciding to attend a 12-step meeting, but it was not the meeting he needed. That meeting was a Gam-Anon group held in the basement of a building. Just one flight of stairs up from that group was a GA meeting, but Rocco said he lacked the courage at the time to go upstairs. The crisis that would spur the change in his life was still years away.
Rocco’s risk-taking was not limited to Atlantic City. Real estate became another form of high stakes betting. He eventually owned five properties in Brooklyn. He did not look on these buildings as an investment so much as another type of action. He recalls living on the edge when it came to making payments and managing those properties.
Rocco married at 43 and would become father to two sons. When his boys were infants, it was common for him to slip away from the family to go gamble. Rocco’s success in real estate and other businesses meant he could give his two sons everything materially, but he had virtually no role in raising the boys when they were small. As he puts it, he was emotionally bankrupt and had an “the illusion of control.” Eventually he sold off his real estate holdings and gambled away much of the proceeds, which took him to the brink of financial bankruptcy to go with his emotional emptiness.
Confronting ruin and despair, Rocco arrived at the crucible that would help to remake his life. His transformation began through what he describes as a difficult but essential practice: looking into the mirror and asking what emotions – either absent or in excess – lay at the heart of his destructive betting and related behavior. With time, that gaze into the mirror delivered insights that would allow him to help others as well as himself. He found the courage to attend GA meetings and, just three months into recovery, started a meeting in his hometown of Manahawkin, whose proximity to Atlantic City meant many locals were in need of support.
To this day, when he takes time for reflection, it is with the same passion and resolve he summoned a dozen years ago. He remains dedicated to the pursuit of self-discovery, which finds its reward in strengthening his own recovery and in the help he offers fellow suffering gamblers.
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CCGNJ's 40th Statewide Conference
Promises to Inform and Empower
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The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey will hold its 40th Statewide Conference on Disordered Gambling on September 23. The conference will be in-person and take place at the Conference Center at Mercer on the campus of Mercer County Community College. The conference theme of “Be Informed – Be Empowered” builds on the initiative CCGNJ introduced during the March observance of Problem Gambling Awareness Month.
The conference program features the Keynote by Dr. Michelle Malkin, Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, East Carolina University. She will speak on "Understanding Gambling-Motivated Crime." Dr. Malkin will explore the experiences of people who have a history of problem gambling, with a focus on those that commit gambling-motivated crimes. Additionally, Dr. Malkin shares her own story of consequences due to a history of gambling. The presentation includes suggestions for counselors and others who have clients who may have been involved in gambling-motivated crimes.
One of the three Plenary sessions will be a panel discussion on "The Voices of Recovery” that will feature former CCGNJ Executive Director Arnie Wexler and his wife, Sheila. Along with the Wexlers, includes Steven Block and Gloria B. The panel will examine the barriers or difficulties in reaching out for help, the turning points that made them seek recovery, the realization that recovery is something one cannot do alone, and finally, what is working for them in their recovery efforts.
Dr. Vivien Anthony, Assistant Professor in the Rutgers University School of Social Work, and Jackie Stanmyre, Assistant Director of the Center for Gambling Studies (CGS) in the Rutgers University School of Social Work, will discuss “Nuance of Mindfulness: Gambling Treatment Implications.” In addiction studies, including gambling, greater mindfulness is associated with reduced problem severity.
Mindfulness-based interventions have become increasingly proven to support successful recovery. Aligned with the theme of this year’s conference, mindfulness techniques are tools of positive psychology, such that an empowered client population, through better understanding of self, can make better-informed choices regarding their gambling.
Ken Litwak, Executive Director of Gambling, Education and Community Relations at John Brooks Recovery Center, will focus on “Getting to Current Thinking on Gambling and Trauma.” Mr. Litwak will explore the relationship between problematic gambling and traumatic occurrences and will discuss the current research on how gambling disorder and PTSD intersect. He will share information on current thinking about recovery from gambling disorder for those who struggle with co-occurring traumatic stress. The presentation will include a brief history of the concept of trauma and how it has evolved over time to the present day. Some attendees will know Mr. Litwak for his work on CCGNJ’s 30-Hour Virtual Training.
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Book a Presentation for Your Group or Workplace
Would you like for the CCGNJ to visit your facility or group to discuss gambling and related disorders? Presentations can be provided in person or via Zoom. Please contact Luis Del Orbe, Prevention & Treatment Administrator, at 609-588-5515 (ext 120) or luis@800gambler.org to schedule a date.
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