Partner Playback - Gaming and Gambling: The Link Between Youth Problem Gambling & Video Games

Today we are speaking with Josh Ercole, Executive Director at the Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA, to talk about videogames and youth gambling, and how these two activities overlap and intersect. Do you know what loot boxes and microtransactions are? Or that the rating “E for Everyone” doesn’t necessarily mean a game is automatically “safe”? Chrissie learned the answers to these questions and more as we discussed how video games (and learning games) contain many elements of gambling, how gambling activities are really all around us, how to keep an eye out for signs of problem gambling and video game use, and resources for help. Join us!.  

Things we mentioned during our conversation:

 

DASD PAYS Data for Gambling (pgs 36-38)

 

Josh mentioned that problem gambling is now reclassified in the DSM-5. Here is the definition of gambling disorder from the American Psychiatric Assoc. Here are the criteria from the DSM-5 to diagnose gambling disorder. 

 

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month 

 

Resources to find support:

The Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA (CCGP) has many resources on their site. The Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania, Inc., maintains a 24-hour helpline, aimed at assisting people whose lives are impacted by gambling related problems. Whether it be the individual themselves, or friends and family members, they strive to connect callers with additional resources located near them. The helpline offers 24/7/365, live assistance to callers. Calls are free and entirely confidential. For callers with primary languages other than English, a language line translation service is available, offering assistance in over 200 languages. Chat and text options are also available. You can also call 1-800-GAMBLER.

You can also find Resources for Providing Help.

Follow the CCGP on Facebook @ccgofpa 

 

Reboot and Recover provides treatment for technology dependency.  

 

Game Quitters is a resource to learn more about video game use and dependency. 

 

The National Council on Problem Gambling has resources and screening tools.

 

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) groups meet regularly to provide free, anonymous support. Find a meeting here.

 

Sign up for CTC’s First Annual Snowball Shuffle Family 5k Run & 1 Mile Walk 

 

Sign up your 6-12 grader for CTC’s FREE  Healthy Youth Summit!

 

CTC’s Parent Resource Page with Marijuana Resources

 

Communities that Care has a Parent to Parent Blog and many online resources and webinars. Please follow us on socials for more tips, resources and support!:

Instagram @downingtownctc 

Facebook @DowningtownAreaCTC 

Twitter @DowningtownCTC 

YouTube

LinkedIn

 

Be sure to Subscribe/Follow us to get new episodes every other Monday. We would love to hear from you! Please email Chrissie with any questions, comments or other feedback at cdziembowski@dtownctc.org 

 

Find the episode webpage and previous episodes HERE.