- March 07, 2025
- Gambling
March marks Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and we coordinated a panel discussion with three remarkable leaders who are shaping how Illinois responds to problem gambling.
We’re joined by Anita Pindiur, executive director of The Way Back Inn, Heather Martinez from the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling, and Emma Bowen from Chestnut Health Systems. We’ll explore why March has become such a pivotal month for awareness, what’s happening across the state, as well as some surprising insights from communities grappling with expanded gambling.
Way Back Inn:, 708-345-8422, or wbi@waybackinn.org
Illinois Council on Problem Gambling, 833-937-4274 ( ICPG)
or 618-877-4420
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Call Gateway Foundation: 855-723-0963
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Text GAMB to 833234
Transcript:
Shane:
Welcome to Wager Danger, the podcast where we discuss gambling addiction and recovery. I’m Shane Cook, gambling disorder program director at Gateway Foundation.
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and this episode we have a panel discussion with three remarkable leaders who are shaping how Illinois responds to problem gambling.
We’re joined by Anita Pindiur, executive director of The Way Back Inn, Heather Martinez from the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling, and Emma Bowen from Chestnut Health Systems. We’ll explore why March has become such a pivotal month for awareness, what’s happening across the state, as well as some surprising insights from communities grappling with expanded gambling.
From innovative art programs to groundbreaking financial counseling services, and even virtual screening initiatives, we’re covering what’s new in 2025 and why this year’s theme of ‘Seeking Understanding’ matters more than ever.
Everyone’s contact information and social media handles are in the show notes, so please reach out if you or someone you know needs assistance.
It’s so great to have all of you with us today to discuss this important topic, welcome to the show!
Anita, Emma, Heather;
Thank you. Thank you for having us.
Shane:
Absolutely. I’m excited to have you all on the same podcast. And, we’re going to take the opportunity to talk a little bit about Problem Gambling Awareness Month. It’s something that we typically do every year as, behavioral health care providers. We celebrate the month of March for, problem gambling awareness, but yet we haven’t really talked about it on the show before.
So I thought this might be a great opportunity to really talk about what we do, why we do it. Some of the activities that we’re involved in and how we reach out to the various communities throughout the state of Illinois. So, to kick it off, Anita, you do you want to talk a little bit about what is Problem Gambling Awareness Month?
How did it start? What the purpose is, etc. and I’ll give each of you a chance to weigh in on that, too.
Anita:
Well. Thank you. Shane. So, problem Gambling Awareness month or PGAM as we call is quite a celebration. And it’s, here within the community of, gambling use disorder recovery. It’s basically our Christmas.
So we, you know, we celebrate the whole entire month, and, we’re going back quite some time in, even before the 2000, but in the early 2000. So let’s say about 25 years ago, you know, it became a national, kind of movement. And Illinois adapted it being a very progressive state really understands and take into account that education and prevention and just general awareness is really necessary.
And we used to only celebrate a week. And as we progressed and moved along, we said, you know, a week is not enough to celebrate this really important topic. And this really important idea that we have. So we moved it to a month. And now Illinois celebrates the whole entire month of March when the National Council began, it did start historically kind of in, you know, everybody always tells me like, oh, you know, it’s NCAA day.
And we’re like, yes, we do. Because that was the whole point. Would the National starting in a, pool would that collaboration of let’s talk about awareness, prevention and responsible gaming during one of the heaviest gambling times in, you know, kind of college basketball, right.
Shane:
So there is a tie in with March Madness. There’s a there’s a purpose for it being.
And in March and you mentioned in the national organization, really was the primary driver behind this, dedicating this time, to explore problem gambling. Heather, how does that how does that dovetail with what we do in the state of Illinois and the Illinois Council on Problem gambling? And the active role that that you all play during the month?
Heather:
Yeah, absolutely. So the national kind of at this point dictates the theme every year. So we look, look to them for that. Just to kind of gauge, you know, where are we going? What direction? But as you know, as far as Illinois Council on problem gambling, we, we offer a variety of trainings. We especially go a little heavy in March, specifically for PGAM
We also take this time to highlight other, providers and agencies in the state to give them a voice as well. So this is an opportunity for us to allow people within the state to, you know, share their events, their training. We do have an additional calendar that we put out there that’s, a community calendar to say, and that’s in partnership with IDHS, so that we can make sure to capture everybody’s events and what’s going on, to make sure that we have the impact that we’re expecting for this month.
Shane:
Sounds good. So, you mentioned the theme. What is the theme for 2025 Problem Gambling Awareness Month?
Heather:
Yes. The theme this year is Seeking understanding.
Shane:
Okay. And and like you said, that’s usually driven by the national organization. And there’s opportunity to interpret that. Right. And what that means for each organization that that celebrates. Emma, tell us a little bit about Chestnut and what you all have planned for Problem Gambling Awareness Month.
Emma:
So like you mentioned, I work at Chestnut Health Systems. I’m in Granite City, so I’m in the Metro East Illinois area. At chestnut. We do a range of things. We offer a range of services, from physical health to mental health prevention to treatment to screenings. We kind of do everything we’re outreach, we’re prevention, we’re treatment. We we kind of do a little bit of everything.
So every month we have a lot going on. And then PGAM we really take the opportunity to ramp it up to be everywhere that we can be. Identify those people that we want to reach, specifically, some that we’ve got identified this month around us. We’re working with some veteran, groups, as well as student groups and behavioral health officers that aren’t trained on problem gambling.
So really trying to find those places that we need to be in the community and ramping that up times ten for Problem Gambling awareness month.
Shane:
Okay. So you so you you really try to reach out across the state, to various communities that you serve, and provide those opportunities to engage within the community. Right?
Emma:
Yeah, absolutely.
We want to be there to reach people who haven’t gambled before. We want to be there to talk to people who are gambling and want to set limits. We want to talk to people who need support already. We want to be talking to people who could provide support. So really trying to be everywhere we can be to get those resources out.
Shane:
Okay, so when I think about the month of March, and there’s a focused effort, I mean, we’re we’re all out doing outreach programing throughout the course of the year. But this month just seems to be a little bit more intense, right? With, with more activities and more programing. What I think is, is really interesting is when you take a step back, can you think about us partnering with, marketing firm that has put out a statewide marketing campaign called Are You Really Winning?
How does that play into the month of March, and what type of special activities are we engaged in with that campaign? That really kind of are highlighted during the month of March. And Anita, I’m going to address that to you. I think that might be a good question for you.
Anita:
Yeah. Thank you. You know, one, kind of the the idea kind of came about and it did.
Right. It started years ago. And you’re you’re right. Right. We do outreach all year long now that that is a newer effort. And we always did right as a treatment provider and as the way back in who has done treatment since 1999 on, gambling use disorder, there’s definitely been a level of outreach, but it wasn’t as concentrated and as direct and and maybe as focused.
And so when, the idea kind of came out of how do we make this even more intense? It became a why don’t we all kind of collide under one mission, under one person, and we do lean on the National a lot for that, as Heather mentioned, where, you know, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We just want to make sure that people are hearing this message and understanding, I might need help today or I might need help ten years from now, but if I know where to seek, does how it is available able?
I’m all works a lot with youth, right? We just want to there to be awareness and the kind of prevention and the prevention of youth starting to young. But when we also want to make sure that when they do get off age and are starting, they already have their education. And, a responsible habits kind of under control.
So as are you really when it came about? A lot of it was about media and reaching, you know, kind of the general audience. A lot of times we spoke to people who either already knew us or they were interested in this topic. Being in would a marketing form, which is kind of newer, allows us to really reach a wider audience and a vast audience that we wouldn’t normally have targeted.
Sure we can. You know, we’re in everybody’s living room, we’re on the radio, we’re on social media. Those billboard and then there a push for something that’s very therapeutic, very positive, and allows you to utilize your time in a different way, which is the art competition that you mentioned. So we really want to make sure that, you know, we’re not just taking something away, but also giving you something to replace that and allowing you to sort of still be involved, be with other people and kind of see a finished product.
Heather, and ICPG did a beautiful job last year of making sure that we display the art at every conference, that we have the ability to really showcase the extreme talent that we have here in Illinois.
Shane:
Yeah, I think that’s a really unique program, to, to have a statewide art competition that people are able to participate in, and it captures people from the age 14 and older.
So it really appeals to up to a broad demographic. Across the state. And it seems to be growing every year. It does. I remember the first year we didn’t have this many submissions as we did last year, and last year it seemed like it was great. We well, the traveling show art show that went, that that was at the Illinois State Fair, made a stop there.
It was pretty impressive to see how many works.
Anita:
And yeah, I think Shane actually went to all of them. I even skipped a few. But, I mean, we had it at SIU in Carbondale. It got moved to, UIC in Champaign. It was at the state fair for the whole entire ten days. Yeah. Really getting a lot of awareness.
Plus, you know, social media, presentations, just making sure that people can see it and are being, kind of rewarded. And it’s just, you know, kind of you right now, we’re getting a very different level of it, a lot more. It’s making it much harder for judges to say, like, who’s who’s rolling up here, right? Right. Yeah.
Shane:
Well, it’s, it’s great that we’re able to tie that in art as therapy. As, as we all know. I mean, it’s it’s been one of those therapeutic devices that have been around for quite some time. So to incorporate that with, within the framework of gambling, I think is is really unique and special. I yeah, I’ve just appreciated the fact that we’ve done that for the last few years now.
Heather, tell, tell us a little bit more about some of the some of the training and programing that you have on deck or highlighted for the month of March.
Heather:
Yeah, absolutely. So we have a variety of trainings coming up. I know there’s one that focuses on AI. So one of the initiatives that I do is to kind of look at the up and coming trends that are happening in, the gambling world.
We want to make sure that you’re getting not just, you know, resources on how to treat patients, but also, what’s happening? What’s going on with, you know, just the general landscape of gambling in general so that, you know, what could potentially be coming in. We also have another one, I believe, on sports betting. And as I mentioned, to like this is really an opportunity for us to focus on, letting other agencies share their events, too.
But we also are leading up to our 30 hour training for, the PCGC So that’s a problem. Gambling, certification here in Illinois. It’s something that we also have kind of taken a lead on trying to encourage people to do the 30 hour training, which is part of the, process that you need in order to get that certification.
We offer OnDemand. Our live version will be in April. So we kind of promote that throughout the month of March just to, encourage people to take that next step. We we also do a lot of introductory work. Our goal is to expand the audience. So not just counselors and social workers in the state. I think that are you really winning campaign has been phenomenal and reaching the general population.
And that’s really given us, the opportunity to focus on kind of like those first responders. So your doctor, anybody in that medical, community. So we’re also doing some additional trainings for them as well that are a little bit more generalized. So they can learn a little bit more about problem gambling and the impact on their patients, and also the resources available so that they are empowered to go ahead and utilize that so they can send people to the resources that are available.
Shane:
Yeah. That’s great. That’s good news. And and the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling continues to be so engaged, involved at least throughout the the three and a half years that I’ve been involved, it’s been a very good relationship with ICPG and, all the services that that you all provide to us as providers and, change tact a little bit, when when you look at exploring the community around you, in southern Illinois, is it really southern?
It’s it’s it’s central.
Emma:
Yeah. I would say southern Illinois. I went to SCV. So southern. Southern.
Shane:
Okay. Well, we’ll go with that. When you look at engaging within the community, what is it? What type of activity is do you look for that really starts to bring that engagement home for chestnut.
Emma:
So we try to, hit the audiences.
So we try to pick the audience first and then follow that. So like I mentioned, working with veterans, we’re also working with, a couple of agencies in the area to, like Heather said, help get people, those first responders trained as well. But for general public events, we try to hit a range like, Lewis and Clark is a local college to us.
They have health fairs, so things like that. Health fairs, job fairs, project homeless Connect, any kind of place where people are going to be gathered and especially community facing is a great place to be. I do usually take advantage of the opportunities from A5 to collaborate with the gambling locations, which specifically to us is a local casino.
I work with them, but we’ve also done a lot of work to target local, gambling establishments. So businesses that might have slot machines inside that aren’t a casino, that might be a dinner location or a bar, getting resources there too. So trying to think big and also trying to think local and small and really just trying to put information in all those places.
And then we try to pair that with, a strong communication campaign. So digital ads going out that are related to March Madness, that are related to, are you really winning, high betting events, things like that blog post and press release. I think that comes from ICPG. And then also doing print things, just getting things everywhere in every way as our as our goal for problem Gambling awareness month.
Shane:
Yeah. And what kind of response have you seen from some of the local, some of the local that the slot machine parlors that exist out in the, the smaller communities, what kind of response have you seen from, the people that run those shops or the people that frequent those shops?
Emma:
Yeah, I think I’ve spoken to a lot more, and I’ve talked to people one on one about their experiences.
But I’ve spoken to a lot of business owners specifically of those locations, because usually that’s who I ask for, because if you’re bringing resources, you need to talk to the owner or a manager. So I do speak to a lot of those people, and I’m never there to probe any information out of them, but they do. Usually when exchanging resources, they share with me their experience and their experiences definitely range the gamut.
A lot of them tell me that it’s been financially beneficial, that, you know, maybe has saved their business or this thing or that thing that’s positive. But for every positive thing, I’ve got a negative thing or maybe even to, similar to, you know, I didn’t I didn’t realize what was going to happen when I introduced this.
And it’s changed the business, and it’s caused a lot of trouble that I didn’t see coming and bringing pain here that I didn’t expect. One person specifically told me that she didn’t expect that whenever she brought it in, that she would have people waiting at the door with their small children at opening, waiting to get to the bench, and that their toddler would sit on the bench all day.
So I think that there’s really kind of positives and negatives that I’m hearing from those business owners, and just maybe that they didn’t have the information that they needed when they got into this to know what it would look like. And they certainly don’t have the support to make it something that’s safe or beneficial to the customers. And in the long run, ultimately, the business and the business owners, because, like I said, this isn’t what they were looking for when they introduced slot gambling into their business.
They were hoping to boost profits, probably during Covid. And yeah, ultimately negative things came from that that they don’t have the means to necessarily or the support to deal with now. So yeah,
Shane:
that’s that’s really interesting. Your comments there because you all are out as am I. We’re all out doing these events in front of the public, whether it be at a sporting event or going into a community college to a health fair.
But more and more, I’ve noticed people coming up and sharing stories like that with me, are you are you all seeing the same thing?
Anita:
Yeah. Oh, we’re seeing a lot of, you know, people are the much more open. People are much more willing to share what is going on for them, or maybe with their family member.
Many of them are talking about kind of like, you know, this all started as fun, but now I’m seeing the dangers. Even with sports betting, we’re seeing people saying, well, I’m having a hard time really watching a sporting event now without gambling on it, because it just doesn’t bring me the same joy. I don’t feel as vested in it.
And and so people are becoming much more open and sharing and to Emma’s point right. Some of the businesses are sharing like this. This isn’t necessarily what we signed up for. We want to do a business. We weren’t going to be like doing social services on the side. And now it’s becoming like, how do I handle some of these cases?
Yeah, I think the most interesting one is when we are at sporting events and people ask us for loans and, ask us if we do any kind of loan or forgiveness, like financial forgiveness programs, for their gambling. And we don’t, but that is one of the biggest questions. And
Shane:
that’s interesting. I’ve not heard that before.
Anita:
Yeah, I’ve, I’ve heard it a number of times. I was saying, like, you know, I did have a problem. I’m trying to work myself out financially out of, you know, the situation. How can I get some loans for this? Interesting. Okay. Well, I guess I can segue with that with Heather and ICPG being very involved with our financial counseling.
Shane:
Yeah, with Gam Fin right?
Heather:
Yeah. The Illinois Council on Problem Gambling, we are working with, Gam Fin And right now, so they offer financial counseling. So we’ve partnered with providers in the state. So if they’re working with patients that do need that financial piece, once they’ve worked with them a little bit, they will offer that to them free of charge.
They typically get 3 to 4 sessions. And, you know, we’re, pretty flexible in that too, if they do need some additional assistance. But, we want to just be able to offer these additional resources to the providers so that they can, you know, help their patients as much as possible, because that is a big a big piece of it.
A lot of them have accrued debt, and they’re just trying to figure out how to get out of that hole. Right. Important piece. Right?
Shane:
Yeah. And I’m totally aware of that with people that are going through a program. And we’ve had some people that we’ve referred out to Gam Fin as well over the course of the year, but I have not run into it where people have come up and talked to me about it out doing an event like that.
So it’s interesting to hear that people are, that are becoming a little, a little more open to having those conversation points because, you know, the first year we’re out doing these events as people are just, you know, kicking the tires, walking by. What are you doing here? You’re promoting gambling? No, we’re not promoting gambling. We’re, we’re all talking about problem gambling, you know?
So it’s it’s interesting to hear that. So. But great at the same time. We have a solution two right, that we can provide them. So, in terms of how you’re each approaching this month in terms of activities that you’re doing, Emma, I think you shared with us some of the activities that you’re doing. But, Anita, would you mind sharing with us what The Way Back Inn the has planned for the month?
Anita:
Yeah. So, you know, there’s probably so many rights or whatever I can remember. And as good partners or whatever you want and do a lot of these different events, we will be obviously involved in all the conferences that Heather, and I, CPG are putting together, which is always very exciting because it’s always nice to have that additional level of education and, you know, kind of fun.
For professionals, so many of my counselors will be at one, we will be really amping it up and stepping up with all the sporting venues. And so the sporting venues will be a really big one in those months. And, particularly with basketball, because that’s when we’re going to see, and, you know, college basketball kind of winding down.
So we’re all going and then going into the championship and, and going into all March Madness. So that’s why we’re going to be very involved. There is just going to be more awareness in terms of media, social media, maybe more. Again, we’re partnering with all of our partners to have them involved in radio, TV and yeah, other venues.
Shane:
And there’s a lot more press that that happens during the month of.
Anita:
Yeah, yeah, a lot of press, and then some small things that, you know, way back in on the staff, there is National Screener Day, so March 11th, Tuesday, March 11th is National Screener Day. So not only will, my way begins, staff and also a lot of the providers be out of different events that day, including casinos to do screener day.
But we also make sure that we have, that equity piece in there and our very, easily accessible. So we’re doing the screeners via zoom as well. So we just keep a link open all day long and whoever kind of pops in and says, like, yeah, let’s do a screener together. We’re there for them. And then we can kind of really lead them through all the next stops.
Shane:
Interesting. So, with, with the virtual screening, are you are you promoting that through the social media channels? How is how are you getting the word out on.
Anita:
Yeah, mainly social media. And then, kind of local events. And so as we’re leading up to today, you know, it’s kind of starting now, a lot of the local events that we are ad we’re kind of making sure and then just letting, other providers know, particularly providers who wouldn’t normally really be involved in gambling use disorder.
So like the our health clinics in the area and the, oh my god, whatever sport. Or whatever, like resources are in the community, like, park districts. I don’t know, like, can so like park districts, we work and schools. We work with many of those in and within the local area just to do education and awareness and that we’re leaving information with them.
So when they see someone and they want to kind of promote it even further.
Shane:
All right. Well, hey, thanks so much for you all joining today. Any final thoughts that any of you might have on Problem Gambling Awareness Month that you want to share?
Heather:
I did want to address one thing that we’re launching in March. So this we decided this is going to be the year of the why?
We want to encourage people to figure out the why.
Shahne:
Like, why isn’t it in the question why so why? What is there?
Heather:
Why what is their reasoning for wanting to learn about problem gambling, to support their patients, to support those in the community? So we are actually launching a, a video and a campaign in March that will kind of address that a little bit deeper, that, has some people with lived experience and providers as well.
To just kind of you know, really engage a broader audience, and encouraging them to have a better understanding of, like, the reason why it’s so important.
Shane:
It’s interesting. How did you come up with that idea?
Heather:
That’s actually a good question. I think so. As you know, we’re there’s been a lot of changes for Illinois Council on problem Gambling the past couple of years.
We’ve gone from, you know, 2 or 3 trainings a year to, you know, 30 plus virtual and six in person. So for us, it which I think everyone appreciates, by the way, it’s been, it’s been great just, you know, having that ability to connect and, with that, this, we initially wanted the awareness we wanted people to just be well aware of our organization, of our resources, our events.
But now we’re taking it a step further, and we’re trying to address that next step of, like, why? Why should you, want, you know, to learn more, why should this matter to you? And so we want to bring the voice of those with lived experience and the voice of those that are the providers that are already treating those with problem gambling, to a front to make sure that, you know, they’re addressing this issue in Illinois, especially as you know.
Gambling’s become much more accessible the past couple of years. So we want to make sure that we’re touching as many people in the state as we can and encouraging them to utilize the resources available.
Shane:
That’s great. Very interesting. And, I think that’s very introspective of you all to kind of take that approach and, and think of that as kind of a platform to launch from, and kind of keep it centered for all of us that are on the receiving end of the work that you all do.
So, thank you for that. It’s very helpful.
Anita:
So to pull off of the why. Right. Like, kind of why we’re doing this, you know, really letting everybody explore this option. I think that’s a big takeaway for this month is just take a look. It’s. We don’t want to wait till people hit rock bottom.
We don’t want it to get so bad that you’re contemplating, like, is this the last thing you know? Then, just kind of take a look, see if anything applies to you.
Shane:
All right. Good advice.
Emma:
My final thoughts would be whether you work in the gambling field or not, use March as a time to ask those questions, whether it’s to people you work with, people who know about it, people who, you know, gamble or you’re worried about, people who don’t gamble at all.
Just have that conversation with your young people, with teens in your life. Talk to them about what gambling is. Help them be able to figure out what it is. Just have those conversations. This is a month to really talk about gambling and try to help the people around us understand it in a better way.
Shane:
Yeah, good thoughts there.
Well, thank you all again for joining. It’s a great opportunity to bring together some people who are very active in this field and out promoting all of our services every day. So I appreciate you all taking a few minutes of your time and and joining the program. Thank you. Thanks for having us. Thank you.
We love hearing from you. So please take a moment to like, share and comment on our podcast. You can reach out to us directly via email at Wager Danger at Gateway foundation dot org. Look for us on Facebook and Twitter at recover gateway on LinkedIn at gateway dash Foundation, or through our website at Gateway Foundation dot org.
Wager danger is supported through funding, in whole or in part through a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Division of Substance Abuse Prevention and Recovery. And remember, recovery is a lifelong process. If you are a family member, is struggling with a gambling problem. Call gateway at (844) 975-3663 and speak with one of our counselors for a confidential assessment.
