About Us

The Mississippi Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling is a non-profit 501 c (3) corporation and is the Mississippi affiliate of the National Council on Problem Gambling. The Mississippi Council is funded by contributions from the State of Mississippi, the gaming industry, and other donations. The goal of the Council is to offer crisis intervention and referral through our toll-free help line, provide education and training for health care providers, increase public awareness within the state about the problems associated with compulsive gambling, provide information about compulsive gambling to all concerned individuals, conduct research in areas related to this problem, and develop prevention and education programs for adolescents.

Our ongoing focus is helping the community respond to those individuals and their families devastated by addictive gambling. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call our toll-free help line at 1-888-777-9696. All calls are strictly confidential.

In our efforts to assist compulsive gamblers and their families, we have developed a certification process for health care professionals who will be counseling these individuals. Following the above link will take you to the certification criteria. Our model of certification is based on accepted training and treatment procedures adopted by other states and the National Council on Problem Gambling.

Accomplishments

• Operates a 24-hour toll-free help line which has received over 83,303 calls and helped over 10,551 gamblers, their families & friends since its inception.
• Conducted four pastor training conferences in gambling addiction.
• Conducted Tenth Annual Workshop on Compulsive Gambling in 2005. Over 465 counselors have been trained in gambling addiction since our inception; less than 12 trained prior to MCPCG.
• Toll-free help line number is listed in 25 area phone directories throughout Mississippi.
• Conducted the first state prevalence study on problem and compulsive gambling in 1996.
• Developed and implemented counselor certification in gambling addiction. Twenty counselors are ceritified in gambling addiction treatment.
• Developed youth brochure and booklet to help educate Mississippi’s youth about addiction dangers.
• Conducted First Annual Youth Conference in 1999 on adolescent gambling issues.
• Provided senior citizens groups with information on gambling addiction.
• Created gambling addiction training manuals for both levels of our training.
• Supplied posters and brochures with our help line number to casinos, bingo halls, community service and treatment centers throughout Mississippi.
• Developed television and radio public service announcements and each aired in statewide markets.
• Donated books on problem gambling on an annual basis to almost 400 middle schools, high schools, junior colleges and universities.
• Provided speakers to civic organizations and other groups.
• Quarterly newsletters are mailed to over 5400 key contacts.
• Maintain the MCPCG web site. Over 867,528 hits registered since June 1998.
• Developed county referral resource directory for Mississippi .
• Placed billboards in northern, central and southern regions of the state .
• Developed Responsible Gaming Training Programfor casino industry. Provide training to casino employeess on an annual basis.
• Helped gamblers in receiving treatment for gambling addiction at local residential gambling treatment center.

TOLL-FREE 24-HOUR HELP LINE

The Mississippi Council operates a help line for problem and compulsive gamblers which has received over 83,303 calls and helped over 10,551 gamblers, their families & friends since its inception. Over the past year we have noticed certain trends in the calls we have received for help. In an effort to learn more about compulsive gambling and those who suffer from this disorder, we have attempted to create a database of information from these calls. However, we recognize that some callers may be in such a state of crisis that the gathering of information is impossible.

In 2006 the help line received a total of 4432 calls, of which 972 were counseling calls. Seventy-five percent of our callers are seeking help for themselves, while others are calling about their spouses (8%), relatives (9%), and friends (4%). The majority (66%) of the individuals experiencing problems with gambling fall between the ages of 26-54. Fifty-four percent heard about our help line number through the casinos.

MCPCG refers compulsive gamblers and their families to 26 Gamblers Anonymous meetings; the 15 Regional Mental Health Centers; 19 Private Treatment Providers and 10 Consumer Credit Counseling Centers.

EDUCATION

• Training Workshop for Counselors
  When the Mississippi Council (MCPCG) opened its offices in February 1996, there were less than one dozen counselors with any gambling addiction training in Mississippi. After only seven months, the Council held its first training in October 1996, during which 70 counselors received intensive training. In February 1997, the Council held its second two day training course and this time an additional 100 counselors attended. Since then, the Council has conducted an annual workshop in the fall. At this workshop counselors have the opportunity to earn 30 hours of gambling specific training toward becoming a certified compulsive gambling counselor.
  
  The Council also conducts an annual workshop in the spring. Participants attending this workshop can learn about new and current problem gambling related issues.
  
  Both of these workshops have educated healthcare professionals about screening, assessing and treating problem gamblers.

• Training Manual
  
  The MCPCG has divided the information presented in the intensive training sessions into three 15 hour domains. In order to ensure adequate training, the MCPCG has become one of the few states to offer training manuals to each participant.

• Certification
  
  MCPCG has established a Certification Board consisting of noted leaders in the healthcare industry. In its efforts to ensure the highest standards of treatment available, the Council has developed a stringent certification system. At this time, we have several clinicians in the process of becoming certified compulsive gambling counselors and (20) who have received their certification.

• Pastor’s Training
  
  In 1996, MCPCG offered the first Pastor’s Training Conference in the entire nation. The second series of Pastor’s Training Conferences were held in June and July of 1997 in Biloxi and Jackson respectively. Another training was held in April 1998 in Southaven and was co-sponsored by St. Francis Hospital and Trinity Baptist Church. At these workshops the participants were given a basic understanding of compulsive gambling and presented with referral information and suggestions on how to best intervene with a parishioner who might be troubled.

• Responsible Gaming Training
  
  The Council developed a Responsible Gaming Training Program designed to provide basic knowledge and increase awareness among casino employeesabout problem and compulsive gambling. The training includes facts about compulsive gamblers, profile of a compulsive gambler, signs of compulsive gambling in the workplace, types of gamblers and treatment options.

• Co-sponsored Seminar
  
  The Council co-sponsored a seminar with the National Center for Responsible Gaming featuring Dr. Howard Shaffer, Director of the Division on Addictions at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Shaffer presented groundbreaking findings of his recent study, “Estimating the Prevalence of Disordered Gambling Behavior in the United States and Canada: A Meta-analysis.”

• Youth Education & Awareness
  
  The Council published a booklet entitled “Mississippi’s Youth At Play” which is designed to educate Mississippi’s teens on the issues of problem gambling. With the current surge in today’s society, there is an elevated risk to our youth. This resource guide deals with the history of gambling, its effects on today’s youth and key issues regarding addiction and recovery. It was designed to be the groundwork for educating teens on the realities and consequences of gambling. The activities in this booklet are appropriate for upper elementary, middle school, junior high and high school students.
  
  The Council also developed a youth brochure, “Too Young for a Gambling Problem? Don’t Bet On It”, which is targeted toward youth and is available upon request. The brochure includes the types of gambling activities, teen gambling warning signs and a list of questions to help determine if the teen may be having a problem.
  
  The Council hosted a workshop on adolescent gambling in May 1999 which was attended by over 50 participants. The workshop raised awareness about problematic adolescent gambling and generated practical, helpful responses. Nationally regarded experts presented the latest information and shared their views and experiences on the subject.
  
  Over the past six years, the Council donated the books “Behind the 8-Ball”, “In the Shadow of Chance: The Pathological Gambler”, “Deadly Odds”, and “When the Chips are Down”, "Born to Lose", "Six to Five Against", to almost 400 middle schools, high schools, junior colleges and universities. The books were placed in their libraries to be used by students for research.
  
  Our PSA campaign also targets youth and families to raise awareness of underage gambling.

• Prevalence Study
  
  During the fall of 1996, MCPCG contracted with Mississippi State University and nationally renowned researcher, Dr. Rachel Volberg, to conduct the first prevalence study on problem and probable pathological gambling in Mississippi.
  
  This research is significant in that it finds that Mississippi has one of the highest rates of current problem and pathological gambling in the U.S. The study also found that Mississippians have the third highest lifetime problem gambling rate in the nation.

• Help Line Database
  
  MCPCG developed a database for help line resources and a literature review on pathological gambling research and resources.

PUBLIC INFORMATION

• Problem Gambling Awareness Video
  
  The Council produced a video titled “All Bets Off” in February 2001. The video features recovering gamblers and treatment professionals sharing their knowledge and experiences about problem and compulsive gambling. The video gives one a basic understanding about compulsive gambling from people who treat compulsive gamblers, as well as from people who have suffered from this addiction. This video also serves as an added component to our Responsible Gaming Training program for the casino industry.

• Billboards
  
  The Council launched a billboard campaign in December 1997 publicizing the 24-hour toll-free help line for compulsive gamblers. By increasing the visibility of the help line number, the council hopes to reach a larger portion of problem and compulsive gamblers, their families, and friends.
  
  The six billboards are located in the northern, central, and southern regions of the state. The billboards are located on: (1) I-55 South near Batesville, (2) I-20 East between Vicksburg and Jackson, (3) I-55 South in Jackson, (4) I-10 East near Biloxi, (5) Hwy 61 near Lula, and (6) Hwy 61 in Robinsonville. We hope that the high traffic volume of these areas will help publicize the help line number and educate the public about our program.

• Posters & Brochures
  
  Upon request the Council provides posters and brochures that display our toll-free help line number to any organization. Posters and brochures are placed in casinos, treatment facilities, bingo halls and community service centers.
  
• Public Service Announcements
  
  The Council produced three television public service announcements to educate youth, senior citizens, and the general public about gambling addiction. Grand Casinos, Inc. also donated a PSA targeting problem gamblers. All spots list our toll-free help line number. These spots have aired across the state in the local and cable markets.
  
  A MCPCG radio public service announcement was also developed and sent to radio stations across the state.

• Yellow Pages
  
  MCPCG’s help line number is in 25 Mississippi area market telephone directories.
  
• Community Public Service Programs
  
  MCPCG board and staff have been guests on numerous radio and TV programs and contributors to numerous printed publications.

• Newsletters
  
  MCPCG has developed a database of almost 5400 contacts which enables the council to provide vital gambling addiction information and newsletters to:
  - Healthcare providers
  - Mental Health practitioners
  - Casino Vendors
  - Government Agencies
  - School Counselors
  - Business & Industry

• Internet
  
  The MCPCG has had a presence on the Internet nine years and has received over 867,528 hits. In 2006, we received 135,618 hits. Our web site is updated frequently and can be found at: www.msgambler.org. The Council’s e-mail address is: mcpcg@netdoor.com
  
  Information on the web site includes:
  
  

  *Help line statistics	*Newsletter Articles
  *Upcoming Training Dates	*Prevalence Study
  *Certification Criteria	*GA Meeting Schedule
  *GA Twenty Questions	*List of Board of Directors
  *List of Healthcare Providers	*List of Affiliate Councils
  *Related Links

REFERRAL

• A referral resource book was developed for our staff and counselors to refer people with gambling problems to the appropriate resources in their community. Resource information that MCPCG currently maintains in its book includes:
  
  

  *GA Meetings	*Suicide Help Centers
  *Treatment Providers	*Mental Health Centers
  *Consumer Credit Centers