With the Super Bowl — America’s largest day of gambling — nearing, the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling’s 18th Annual Educational and Awareness Conference will address sports gambling. Tom Brew, award-winning sports reporter and author of a new novel, “The Ties That Bind,” will keynote the opening session on Thursday, Jan. 29, in Lexington.
His novel, released in November 2014, is an action drama dealing with the depths of youth gambling addiction and how far a friend will go to help another friend in trouble. Brew brings 20 years of experience of working with addicted gamblers to his writing, and he has completed most of the classwork required to be a nationally certified gambler counselor.
Sports gambling is one of four topics incorporated in the 18th Annual KYCPG Educational and Awareness Conference, to be held at the Clarion Hotel, Lexington, Jan. 29-30. The theme is “Implications of Problem Gambling: Sports Gambling, Clergy Interventions, Prevention Integration, Counselor Certification.”
Experts will present 11 hours of programs approved for a variety of continuing education hours. The registration fee is $100, but scholarships are available. For more information, contact KYCPG Executive Director Michael R. Stone, 502-223-1823, kmstone@mis.net.
The reality behind Brew’s story is supported by surveys showing Kentucky is home to at least 9,000 addicted gamblers, 50,000 problem gamblers who show signs of the addiction, and 190,000 at-risk gamblers whose behavior signals they may develop a gambling problem.
Among Kentucky’s youth, 17 percent of public school sixth-graders, 30 percent of eighth-graders, and 33 percent of sophomores and seniors gambled for money or possessions during their lifetimes according to the 2012 Kentucky Incentives for Prevention survey data from REACH of Louisville, Inc. At least 2 percent of each group reported gambling led to financial, familial or school problems; or more than 2,000 who exhibited these potential signs of gambling addiction.
If you or someone you know thinks he or she may have a gambling problem or addiction, help is available. The 800-GAMBLER (800-426-2537) problem gambling helpline is a source of information or referral to a certified gambler counselor, Gamblers Anonymous or Gam-Anon.
From the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling, a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to increase awareness of problem gambling, promote prevention and research, and advocate for the availability of treatment. KYCPG is supported by memberships and donations. Corporate members include Keeneland Race Course, Turfway Park, Kentucky Downs, Ellis Park, The Kentucky Lottery Corporation, G-Tech Corp., Belterra Casino Resort, Harrah’s Metropolis Casino, Hollywood Casino Hotel, Horseshoe Casino of Southern Indiana, Rising Star Casino and Hotel, and Tropicana Casino Evansville.