Responsible
Gambling/Gaming

In Our Community:

We provide a variety of presentations, informational materials, and activities to the community in an effort to prevent the onset and reduce the impact of gambling and gaming-related harms.

Merchant Education

Over 280 vendors in our service area are visited every two years with a goal of educating individuals who work in establishments where gambling is allowed about the relevant laws, regulations, and best practices to prevent sales to minors and ensure responsible sales.

Merchants are encouraged to:

Remove advertising below 3 ft and around candy and toy displays
Post signs about the legal age and gambling helplines
Check I.D. of anyone purchasing lottery tickets and scratch cards.

Take A Break Kits

Take-A-Break Kits are an activity designed for youth and young adults to learn about the signs of gambling addiction, tips for playing responsibly and avoiding harm, and healthy coping skills. Participants create a kit of helpful items based on the five senses that can get them through difficult and stressful moments. Each kit has information on gambling, as well as a coping skills activity card.

Materials & Information

To reduce gambling and gaming-related harms, set boundaries or limits when you play. Sticking to a time limit and setting an alarm keeps you from losing track of time and ignoring other important aspects of your life, such as friends and family. Planning ahead and budgeting the amount of money you can stand to lose, and walking away when you've reached that limit, will help protect you from financial harm.

Gambling and Our Community

Webinar with our state Problem Gambling Prevention Coordinator, Anne Rogers

Using Technology to Revolutionize Gambling Support

Listen as our podcast host talks with Sam DeMello about his app, Evive, the ways it personalizes care and generates connection for individuals redefining their relationship to gambling.

State and National Supports

Evive – Evive is a support platform offering education, community, digital tools, and personalized resources for all people struggling with gambling problems. Choose your path. Build a way forward.

National Council on Problem Gambling – The National Council on Problem Gambling is a national nonprofit organization that promotes awareness, provides education, and advocates for change to create a more informed and compassionate society equipped to support those impacted by gambling-related harm.

Virginia Council on Problem Gambling – The VCPG is a nonprofit organization that aims to increase public awareness of problem gambling, ensure the widespread availability of treatment for problem gamblers and their families, and encourage research and programs for prevention and education.

Problem Gambling Support – The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) supports individuals by promoting recovery, self-determination, and wellness is all aspects of life.