In an effort to increase general familiarity with the topic on the local level, Governor Laura Kelly of Kansas has declared the month of March to be “Problem Gambling Awareness Month,” making her the most recent governor of a major state to do so. 

Gambling such as casinos and sports betting is now allowed on the sovereign land of native tribes in this state, but all indications point to an expansion in the near future.

When it comes to her perspective on the month and the significance it has, Kelly is in agreement with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.

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According to the information provided by the government, the objective of the effort is to contribute to raising awareness of “the preventative, treatment, and rehabilitation programs” that are available to address the problem.

The increased level of government support for the effort is also significant in light of the fact that Kansas may be intending to expand its historical horse racing facilities in Wichita and that three new bidders have submitted their bids to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission.

In the meantime, both the Department of Health and Human Services and the Kansas Coalition on Problem Gambling have lauded the significance of the campaign that has been running for the past 20 years and that is growing in importance now that the vast majority of adults in the United States have access to at least one type of regulated gambling product. During this phase of the campaign, the cost of gambling is also taken into consideration.

Thank you to the city of Newton, Kansas for allowing task force members to read the Problem Gambling Awareness Month Proclamation at their meeting yesterday, and thank you Mayor Clinton McBroom for signing it. We appreciate your support!#PGAM2022 pic.twitter.com/aEOTJJcnAu

— SCKS Problem Gambling Task Force (@SCKPGTF) March 9, 2022

The government estimates that one percent of American adults, or around two million people, fulfill the criteria for being classified as pathological gamblers, with their diseases taking on severe manifestations. It is possible that an additional four to six million people fall into the category of light or moderate gamblers. According to the department:

Problem gambling impacts thousands of people in Kansas, including people of all ages, ethnicities, and ethnic origins, and it may have a significant social and economic cost for individuals, families, businesses, and communities.

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According to Carol Spiker, the manager of the problem gambling program at the Department of Justice, while the figures are concerning, they are not the end of the road.

Spiker has assured that problem gambling can be treated, and he has also stated that in order for treatment to have a stronger and more powerful effect, it is important that campaigns such as Problem Gambling Awareness Month be promoted, as this will help reduce the stigma associated with problem gambling in the first place.

The agency has also alluded to successful initiatives to support local people in Kansas by implementing time-tested measures, such as the self-exclusion program that was rolled out in the state.

These attempts were highlighted in Kansas. Self-exclusion is not a foolproof method for starting the process of weaning susceptible gamblers off the activity, but having the option available has been shown to be a successful step for many people.

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