Learn about our approach to problem gaming and gambling prevention in the short video below:
Prevention of Problem Gaming & Gambling Explained
Video gaming and gambling can be harmless, fun activities. They can also cause problems. With increased digitalization of gambling activities and sports betting being normalized, there are more people who are experiencing harms and becoming addicted.
Harms are more than just financial; they can affect someone's social life, their physical health, and cause big emotional swings. These addictions are often insidious and difficult to recognize, as many forms of gaming are socially acceptable with little to any legal limitations.
While the majority of gamers/gamblers do not experience dependence, in some cases problem gambling can be just as destructive as alcohol and drug addictions. Our approach to problem gambling prevention focuses on education & awareness for individuals, families, and communities.
How to Prevent Gaming & Gambling Addictions in Kids & Adults
Gambling addiction is often called the "silent addiction" because it doesn't have the physical characteristics of substance abuse or alcohol addiction. It also comes with a significant amount of stigma, so people experiencing problems often hide it. Unfortunately, this has resulted in gambling being highly tied to suicide. Increasing awareness and providing resources for anyone experiencing problems is vitally important.
One reason gambling is linked to suicide is because of the hope of a payout. Marketing that promises a big win and mechanisms within games that make it feel like that big win is right around the corner are just two ways that gambling can easily shift from fun to causing problems. Some of these mechanisms show up in video games or apps that don't use real money, so allow for young people to participate in gambling-like experiences.
The approach to prevention we take is through education about marketing practices and mechanisms that can lead to higher-risk play, helping to reduce risks and the accompanying harms, and providing resources for those who are concerned about their own or a loved-one's gambling.
What are the Goals of the Gambling Addiction Prevention Program?
The Goals of Problem Gaming/Gambling Prevention include:
- Increasing knowledge and attitudes that foster protection
- Reducing high-risk gaming/gambling
- Decreasing to abstinence, when appropriate
Adoption of low-risk gaming/gambling practices (i.e., setting time limits & money spent)
Want to Learn More About Our Problem Gaming & Gambling Prevention Programs?
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Some examples of programs include:
- Community & Family Based Programs- Community Early Intervention includes education that raises awareness of the harms from gambling and allows family members to discuss ways to help reduce risks
- School Based Programs- Gaming and gambling effects youth more than you might know! Programs like the evidence-based Stacked Deck are used in classrooms to educate
- Youth Development- Students are seeing gambling advertising and share their concerns about peers who gamble. They put those concerns to practice by advocating for change
- Prevention Trainings- Gambling is closely correlated to suicidality. Question. Persuade. Refer. (QPR) is a suicide prevention program that can help identify and reduce risks associated with gambling-related suicidality
- Prevention Coalitions- The Butler County Problem Gambling Action Coalition formed in 2025 in response to growing concerns about gambling accessibility and accompanying harms
- Initiatives & Campaigns- Ohio for Responsible Gambling (ORG) has created social marketing campaigns for different populations, like Change the Game Ohio related to youth gaming and More Than a Bet related to student-athletes
Note: If you or someone you care about is experiencing problems,
call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966.
