At the heart of Las Vegas, the International Problem Gambling Center is tackling gambling addiction with an innovative approach: intensive cognitive therapy designed to uncover and address the deep-seated emotional triggers that drive compulsive gambling.

The Program Uncovers the Roots of Gambling Addiction Through Cognitive Therapy

The program offered by The International Problem Gambling Center includes intensive cognitive therapy sessions led by Stephanie Goodman, reported The Las Vegas Review-Journal. Over six weeks, they put participants through their paces with counseling and group talks focusing on what really drives someone to gamble so much. 

While most Nevadans are not long-term problem gamblers according to Goodman – who says around 6% struggle significantly – she also emphasizes that people should see gambling addiction as a serious mental health issue instead of just a lack of self-control.

The stigma associated with gambling addiction often leads to societal dismissal, making it harder for individuals to seek and receive necessary help. Goodman stresses that like any addiction, gambling addiction requires comprehensive treatment and societal understanding. 

Dr. Kobie West, the center’s assistant clinical director, explains that the program has chosen cognitive therapy as its main treatment since no pharmacological remedy is known. This kind of therapy looks at what makes people gamble in terms of emotional triggers and traumas that they have not resolved as gambling addicts are using betting as an escape from them. It also enables addicts to realize and deal with their past griefs, traumas, or other major life events that might have led them into addiction.

Holistic Therapy Approach Yields High Success Rates for Gambling Addicts

The center’s new approach involves individual counseling sessions along with group activities among the patients where they talk about their problems related to this disorder. The idea behind this strategy is to help these individuals find healthier alternatives for dealing with their emotions instead of engaging in destructive behaviors like gambling. 

For example, therapists may use a technique called “pizza pie”, an analogy which means asking an addict what his life would be like if he did not gamble anymore thus indicating how important it is that he or she fills up all those hours spent on betting with positive actions.

The effectiveness of the center’s approach is notable, with a recovery rate significantly higher than the national average. Goodman notes that while only 8-10% of problem gamblers typically remain in recovery after a year, the center boasts a 44% success rate, which increases to 98% for those who continue with follow-up sessions. The program of the center is a light in the dark for those who have an addiction to gambling.

According to Goodman, participating actively in the process of getting better and wanting it enough is what it takes to beat gambling addiction. The stories that show how successful the center’s methods can also reveal just how difficult this type of addiction is to beat without treating every aspect of a person’s life affected by the problem.

The post Innovative Therapy Program Aims to Combat Gambling Addiction appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Currently, Gordon Moody’s gambling addiction treatment center located in Wolverhampton is the sole location for the UK when it comes to treatment only for women. Besides being the only one in the UK, the charity’s unique treatment center is likely the single such location in the whole world, considering that men predominantly join gambling addiction treatment centers.

This creates an uneven ground for the treatment of gambling addiction among women while at the same time, more research on the matter is required. Now, a new report released by The Guardian suggests that while some women may reach out for help and disclose their addiction, they can sometimes receive antidepressants rather than effective treatment, a method that may exacerbate their issue.

Sarah Forshaw, Gordon Moody’s head of service development, who was interviewed by the publication, revealed that it is not uncommon for women to visit the gambling addiction treatment center and confirm that their previous attempts to treat gambling addiction were unsuccessful because they were misunderstood. Moreover, she warned that the addiction of many women may go on untreated. “Gambling addiction is still massively misunderstood and hidden, and women seem to be even more hidden within that,” added Forshaw.

“We’ve had a lot of women pluck up the courage to go to a doctor and talk about addiction and then be prescribed antidepressants, for example. Their addiction is almost swept under the carpet.“

Sarah Forshaw, head of service development at Gordon Moody

Additional Research into Women’s Addiction to Gambling Is Needed

According to Dr Rosalind Baker-Frampton, Gordon Moody’s evaluation and research lead, the development of the program available for women at the gambling treatment center started from zero. She explained that discussions with women who visited the center helped in the shaping of the program. Additionally, Baker-Frampton spoke about the insufficient research into women’s gambling addictions.

She said that while most research focuses on men, the same methodology cannot be applied to women since they have “different life experiences.” What’s concerning according to Baker-Frampton is that women, unlike men, can hide their addiction much longer. “Normally women have been gambling for an average of around seven years before they come to us. Our data shows 66% have children and 87% have some kind of mental health difficulty as well,” explained Baker-Frampton.

So far, the gambling addiction treatment center has collected data from more than 500 women. This data is going to be vital for further research into treatment specialized for women and Gordon Moody is actively seeking opportunities to join forces with researchers and universities that can play a vital role in this process.

The post Gordon Moody Supports Women in the Fight against Gambling Addiction appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Choukri, who served as the Canadian province of New Brunswick’s deputy attorney general, repented of his actions, admitting his addiction had caused significant financial damage to his clients. The details of his fall from grace reveal the insidious dangers of gambling and how it can strike even wealthy and respected individuals. 

A Dramatic Fall From Grace

Choukri was far from what could be described as a vulnerable individual, serving as the chief of staff in former premier Bernard Lord’s office and later becoming deputy attorney general. He continued to serve in high-profile government positions well into the 2010s, later resuming his position as a well-respected lawyer. However, it all came crashing down when his gambling addiction finally caught up with him.

As a lawyer in Fredericton, he held client funds in trust accounts. However, rising credit card debt caused him to withdraw hundreds of thousands to cover his gambling expenses, as he lost staggering amounts in games of poker at Casino New Brunswick in Moncton. As the funds in the trust accounts finally ran out in 2016, Choukri fled the province.

Authorities found the suspect in Mississauga, Ontario, where he had launched a support group for victims of gambling addiction, hoping to make up for his past actions. The prosecution also revealed that Choukri had run out of funds and had, at one point, contemplated suicide. He is now living with his mother, awaiting the court’s decision.

Choukri Will Likely Serve Time in Prison

Crown prosecutor Vicky Doucette noted that the casino could not return the funds and that Choukri carried the entire blame for the situation. However, his financial status meant he could not reimburse his victims, which is why Doucette and defense lawyer Gilles Lemieux agreed that a three-year prison sentence would be sufficient punishment.

It is a cautionary tale. This was a gambling addiction. It shows how high someone can be and how low they can fall.

Crown prosecutor Vicky Doucette

Although the law society’s compensation fund covered some of the losses Choukri caused, his victims still suffered because of his actions, as several individuals had trusted the ex-lawyer with money from injury settlements. Choukri appeared remorseful, agreeing that his actions had been inexcusable and regretting the damage and distress he had caused.

I caused them troubles, embarrassment, delays, and financial losses. And I am really disappointed in myself. I deeply regret all the wrongs that I have caused.

Yassin Choukri

This recent case perfectly highlights how nobody is safe from gambling addiction. A once respected and successful lawyer and member of the government, Choukri’s encounter with gambling was even more damaging to him than to his victims. As the court prepares to issue its final decision on 19 December, Choukri’s tale should highlight the importance of proper regulations and responsible gambling measures to prevent such cases.

The post Fredericton Lawyer’s Cautionary Tale Reveals the Perils of Gambling Addiction appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The majority of people who are in this group would benefit from level 2 intensity treatment the government argues, or some 970,000 people. This means that the people in question would benefit from two or three sessions of motivational interviewing which is administered by gambling specialists.

Treatment Levels Vary By Intensity, But They Do Have an Effect

Some 243,000 adults, though, would need a level 4 intensity treatment, the government specifies, as this is designed to be a far more comprehensive and demanding treatment course with 8 to 14 sessions which are administered by cognitive behavioral therapy psychologists, who specialize in gambling disorder.

Furthermore, another 40,000 individuals would need a 12-week residential treatment program, which is the most intensive form of care. There is no exact way to tell which people will benefit from what program exactly, as practitioners must also play a role in deciding, but the government’s estimates offer robust guidance.  

The data was commissioned by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and conducted by the University of Sheffield and the University of Glasgow. It’s an interesting research and approach, as it directly seeks to quantify how many people would benefit from treatment.

Not only that but owing to this data, government and industry groups can calculate the costs of such interventions. Although the exact costs of these sessions are not exactly established, they would give the government a rough estimate of what is needed to address the issue.

Of course, if people are actively receiving treatment, they would have to be followed up to see if the treatment was efficient. There are several reasons to be optimistic, however, as GambleAware recently shared its optimism that interventions are having a positive impact.

Focus the Funds Where They Are Needed the Most

This means that treatment and interventions are efficient even if they cost money. Then again, there is the proposed rise of a gambling levy that would go directly to charities and treatment service providers, designed to ensure that individuals who need gambling treatment get it.

More importantly, UKGC’s latest data will allow the efforts to be focused. Earlier interventions and treatments to more people are more cost-efficient it seems, and they may even be administered in groups.

As GambleAware found out, treatment helps 9 out of 10 people, so all the more reason to seek and ensure that these solutions reach people.

The post UK Government Outlines Who May Benefit from Gambling Addiction Treatment appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Defending the sport’s right to benefit from responsible betting sponsorship, English Football League (EFL) Chairman Rick Parry emphasized that there were no magic answers to eliminate addiction issues, calling for empathy and support for affected players. His statements closely follow several betting scandals, highlighting the contentious nature of gambling partnerships.

Education and Rehabilitation Efforts Remain a Priority

The recent 10-month ban imposed on Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali due to gambling addiction has intensified scrutiny of soccer’s relationship with betting. Parry, defending the sport’s association with betting companies, stated that the industry had generated billions since the 2005 Gambling Act, noting that marketing agreements channeled some of this revenue back into sports.

According to Parry, the EFL had commissioned extensive research and did not see any correlation between sponsorships and increased gambling harm. He noted that eliminating the issue would be incredibly challenging, so the organization focused on minimizing problem gambling through various initiatives.

Educating players is something we’ve been doing for at least the last five years, and we’ll continue to do more of that.

Rick Parry, EFL chairman

Parry remained convinced that individuals would gamble regardless of the sponsorships, noting that prohibition was not a viable solution. He added that the recent cases in Italy demonstrated that rehabilitation was just as needed as punishment, and investing more resources in identifying and aiding players with genuine addiction problems could lead to significant improvements.

June saw the EFL renew its collaboration with operator Sky Bet, extending it through the 2028-29 Season. The two partners reaffirmed their commitment to deliver financial support to communities in England and Wales via the Sky Bet EFL Community Fund. This collaboration received praise from the UK government as a socially responsible model.

Chairman Parry was adamant that this partnership would not impact players, stating that some athletes would still choose to wager regardless of sponsorships. He emphasized the need for responsible marketing arrangements and improved gambling operator accountability, noting that such measures would be significantly more beneficial for players and non-players.

Parry’s observations happened during the ongoing EFL Week of Action, highlighting the organization’s life-changing community work as all 72 member clubs unite to make a positive impact. Despite his reassurances, the balance between responsible betting partnerships and addressing addiction concerns remains a hotly contested topic in the soccer landscape as stakeholders search for an optimal solution.

The post EFL Chair Parry Defends Betting Sponsorships amidst Addiction Concerns appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Reality television stars Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann are facing dire financial straits, with mounting debts and an impending foreclosure on their Georgia mansion, according to court documents filed by Biermann. 

Debts Pile Up for Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann Amidst IRS Trouble

In the documents filed in Fulton County Superior Court, Biermann, 38, revealed that the couple owes the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over $1 million in unpaid taxes dating back to 2013, 2017, and 2018. This shocking revelation comes on top of other outstanding debts, including a $400,000 lawsuit from BMW Financial and a $100,000 pending lawsuit from Capital One/Saks. Additionally, Biermann disclosed a lawsuit demanding repayment for a line of credit issued by a casino in the Bahamas, further exacerbating their financial troubles.

The couple’s primary concern revolves around their marital residence, a $3 million mansion in Alpharetta, Georgia. Biermann fears they are on the brink of foreclosure for the second time due to their inability to meet their financial obligations. He urged the courts to grant him permission to sell the property to avoid losing it to foreclosure, stating that it is their only asset.

Adding to their complex situation are the four minor children residing with them. Biermann filed a motion requesting the appointment of a Guardian ad Litem to protect the well-being of the children, citing the toxicity, which is currently present in their home as detrimental to their mental and emotional health.

Gambling Addiction Tore Apart Zolciak and Biermann’s Marriage

This financial turmoil is not the first setback for the couple. In October 2022, their Georgia mansion faced foreclosure after they failed to repay a $300,000 loan taken out on the property. Although they managed to avoid the auction block with a last-minute deal, their troubles continued to mount.

Their money problems escalated in May when it was revealed they owed $1.1 million in taxes, interest, and penalties to the IRS. Additionally, they allegedly owed the state of Georgia $15,000 for the year 2018. These financial challenges took a toll on their marriage, resulting in their initial divorce filing in May.

Amid public accusations and revelations of Kim’s gambling problem, they reconciled and withdrew their divorce petition in July. However, the reconciliation was short-lived, as Biermann filed for divorce a second time in August, stating that their marriage was unrepairable. He also sought sole legal and physical custody of their four minor children, as well as maintaining custody of Kim’s daughters, whom he legally adopted in 2013.

The post Zolciak and Biermann’s Financial Challenges Stem from Gambling Addiction appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The initiative seeking to promote responsible gambling among gamblers in Ohio, Ohio for Responsible Gambling, confirmed that an increase is observed in the number of people calling for help regarding problem gambling. On Tuesday, the organization revealed that the number of calls from people in need of help with problem gambling has increased by 70% year-to-date when compared to the corresponding period last year. The increase once again alerted clinical professionals about the dangers of gambling-related harm.

The latest announcement comes at a time when sports betting is blooming, not only in Ohio but in neighboring states as well. The worrying statistics emerged ahead of National Suicide Prevention Month, featuring initiatives this September. In light of this, Ohio for Responsible Gambling once again reminded players, their families, as well as health experts to be on the lookout for early signs of problem gambling.

Spotting the Early Signs of Problem Gambling Is Crucial

Derek Longmeier, the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio’s executive director, acknowledged that amid the growth of the popularity of sports betting, people need to understand the importance of setting limits. He outlined that detecting excessive gambling early is crucial, explaining that behavioral changes such as betting more than you can afford or seeking for the excitement of wagering big sums can be counted as red flags.

“With sports betting now legal, we need everyone to understand the risks and learn about setting limits.“

Derek Longmeier, executive director, Problem Gambling Network of Ohio

Additionally, Longmeier said that people affected by at-risk, or problem gambling may hide or lie about how much money or time they spend gambling, engage in loans or cut costs for vital expenses like food or rent and use them for gambling. Another red flag could also be a sudden drop in work performance, warns the executive director of the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio.

“Research tells us that of those experiencing a gambling disorder, up to 38% will consider suicide.“

Tony Coder, executive director of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation

Tony Coder, the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation’s executive director, spoke about the clear connection between gambling activities and mental health. Citing research, he said that people affected by problem gambling are more vulnerable to suicide, with up to 38% considering such actions. Coder noted that this percentage is the highest out of any form of addiction. Finally, he encouraged anyone experiencing problem gambling to ask for treatment and support.

The post More People Seek Support for Gambling Addiction in Ohio appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Swedish state-owned online casino operator, Svenska Spel, reaffirmed its ongoing efforts toward research on gambling addiction with grants from its independent research council. On Tuesday, Svenska Spel’s independent research council confirmed it has selected five research studies that received a total of SEK 4.1 million ($377,000) in the form of grants.

The studies seek to help uncover important knowledge about gambling addiction and its impact on others. Additionally, Svenska Spel’s grants seek to help determine effective responsible gambling methods and better ways for treating problem gambling.

Over a decade ago, in 2010, Svenska Spel’s independent research council was founded. Over the last 13 years, the council played a pivotal part by distributing SEK 45 million ($4.2 million) to 35 scientific studies and research projects within the gambling vertical. The latest grants reaffirm its commitment to developing effective methods for treating gambling addiction and gaining valuable knowledge about the impact of such addiction on the people affected and their families.

Sara Lindholm Larsson, Svenska Spel’s chairman of the independent research council, highlighted the importance of the grants this year. She explained that the vital funding will help gain unique insights and knowledge about gambling addiction.

“This year’s granted research project will contribute both to increased knowledge about gambling addiction and which gambling responsibility measures work.“

Sara Lindholm Larsson, chairman of Svenska Spel’s independent research council

According to Larsson, the studies planned for this year will help in the development of more effective guidelines and policies. She pointed out that the studies will help uncover new treatment methods and ways to prevent problem gambling. Finally, Larrson said: “Svenska Spel’s contribution to research and the dissemination of knowledge about games is crucial for many in society today and tomorrow.”

Grants to Support Five Studies

As noted, funding will be awarded to five different studies planned for this year. The list includes a study on “Family-centered treatment for problematic gaming,” led by Emma Claesson-Knutsdotter from the Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University. The study secured SEK 800,000 in grants from the independent research council.

Another SEK 800,000 was awarded to Kristina Berglund, from the Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg for a study on “Exploring craving in different samples of problem gamblers.”

On the other hand, Nathan Lakew from the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, leading a study on “Payment gateways in responsible gambling: A predictive design perspective” secured SEK 1 million in grants.

Claes Andersson from the Department of Criminology, Malmö University received a SEK 700,000 grant for a study on “Gambling in university students: Pathways to care and mental health outcomes.”

Last but not least, the study “How are gamblers and concerned significant others affected by Spelpaus?” led by Anders Håkansson from the Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, secured a grant of SEK 800,000.

The post Svenska Spel Awards $380K for Five Studies on Gambling Addiction appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Excessive smoking and alcohol consumption impact millions of American adults and even teens. While getting hooked on nicotine or booze is worrying, people who get addicted easily can consume food excessively or engage in gambling, making such abuses just as worse as alcohol and smoking. Amid such concerns, modern medicine continues to actively seek and test drugs that can help people quit smoking, consume alcohol or even help with combatting addiction to gambling and food.

One drug, called Ozempic, has helped millions of Americans lose weight. However, unconfirmed online reports suggest that the drug also helped others get off drinking, stop smoking and even helped fight gambling addiction. An estimated of 50 million Americans have already seen the benefit of the aforementioned drug when it comes to weight loss, a report released by DailyMail reveals.

But what is Ozempic and what does it do? Ozempic is a prescribable diabetes drug that consists of semaglutide, its active ingredient. The injectable drug is known to have positive results when it comes to weight loss with diabetics but some anecdotal reports also claim that it can be beneficial when treating addictions to food, alcohol and even gambling.

A discussion posted on Reddit earlier this year tells the story of a person that was addicted to Adderall, as well as gambling. The person claimed that once he started taking Ozempic, they immediately saw how “stupid” gambling is and significantly decreased the intake of Adderall which stemmed from surgery. “Almost immediately the thought of gambling seemed so obviously stupid – not just dumb financially but a waste of time. It actually seemed boring to me for the first time ever,” wrote the person who claimed that Ozempic worked “almost like a literal miracle.”

Evidence about the Effectiveness of Semaglutide against Addiction Is Insufficient

The Harvard psychiatrist who explores the connection between metabolism and mental health, Dr Chris Palmer, explained: “The exact same brain circuits that are regulating our food intake are also playing a role in our addictive behaviors.” He said that actions or substances that are related to survival and reproduction result in a dopamine award and this is precisely what addictive substances can trigger as well. According to Dr. Palmer, substances that can trigger this dopamine reward system can be considered addictive and those can include food, alcohol, nicotine or even foods with lots of fat or sugars.

While there are other unconfirmed reports and claims about the miracle benefits of semaglutide when it comes to combatting addiction, hard evidence and trials with humans are insufficient. Without any doubt, people affected by problem gambling or addicted to smoking or alcohol need to first consult with an expert rather than taking prescription drugs that may have unexpected long-term effects on their health.

The post Weight Loss Drug May Help People Fight Addiction to Gambling appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) published a press release on its website, criticizing the market figures, sources and methodology used by the German Head Office for Addiction (DHS) in its article, Yearbook Addiction 2023.

Incorrect Market Size Calculation

The DSWV states that the DHS uses incorrect figures as per the sports betting market size in Germany in 2021, putting up total sales at €18.3 billion ($19.9 million), translating to an increase of 409.6% year-over-year, while the market totaled €9.4 billion ($10.2 billion) in wagers, or an increase of 21%.

The DSWV was provoked to inform the public that Yearbook Addiction 2023 was based on incorrect figures after informing the DHS about the correct method of calculation did not change the figures the DHS used to calculate the 2021 market size in the revised version of its article.

Prof. Dr. Gerhard Meyer from the Health & Society Department of the Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research at the University of Bremen used gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion), as well as a payout rate of 93%, using the incorrect sales figures and comparisons drawn from questionable sources, fussballwetten.com, sportwettentest.net and wettProvider.de.

Elaborating on its claims about the dubious nature of the websites used by the DHS, the DSWV points to the anonymity behind these websites and the incomplete nature of the data they provide.

Furthermore, fussballwetten.com advertises gambling, which is illegal in Germany, and ranks only illegal operators in its top ten betting providers list. The website even suggests that a Curaçao license is enough for legally accepting bets in Germany, working against the legal market.

As for the payout percentage, the DSWV claims that data used by the DHS that was derived by sportwettentest.net and wettProvider.de is incomplete as payouts generally vary based on numerous factors, including the level of competition, taxes, provider’s cost structure and willingness to take risks, and the behavior of players on the market.

Online vs Retail, Combined vs Single Bets

To prove its point, the betting association points to the difference between the payout rates online and in retail, with the latter usually being well below those in betting shops, as well as the different payouts based on the type of dominating bets for each bookmaker since customers placing combined wagers tend to lose more than those wagering on a single event.

Adding the high tax burden of 5.3% on each bet in Germany, the association concludes that the payout rate of 93% used by the DHS in the calculations is not realistic, and expresses its concerns that the University of Bremen reverts to using data from such unreliable sources for its scientific work.

As a staunch defender of the legal market, the DSWV demands again that the DHS and Prof. Dr. Meyer correct their article and calculate the market size according to data published by the Federal Ministry of Finance based on the 5.3% tax on stakes and where 95% of the payments come from regulated providers.

The post DSWV Criticizes the German Head Office for Addiction appeared first on Keno Wizard.