MO Lottery Blog

Problem Gambling

This week is the National Problem Gambling Awareness Week. The Missouri Lottery, along with the National Council on Problem Gambling, is providing free educational materials. The goal is to educate the public and healthcare professionals about the warning signs of problem gambling and raise awareness about the free help that is available.

In Missouri, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 888-BETSOFF (1-888-238-7633) or visit www.888betsoff.org.

Learn more about National Problem Gambling Awareness Week and the Missouri Lottery's efforts to curb problem gambling here.

It's a scam!

February is national Scams Awareness Month. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Here is the message we're promoting this month, and here it is in action. This station in South Dakota is reporting a local scam involving Powerball.

Remember, we don't contact you if you win the Lottery - you have to buy a ticket and claim your winnings with us. If someone requests personal information and/or money so that you can claim the prize for which you never entered, it's a scam!

Give Responsibly

We think Scratchers make great gifts. Check out the holiday-themed $5 game, “Holiday Spectacular.” Not only can you win up to $100,000 instantly, the attractive ticket with a clear “To/From” section makes it an easy gift or gift tag.

Even though Scratchers are easy gifts, we hope you understand that you should never give Lottery tickets to children. Playing the Lottery is legal only for adults 18 and older.

The Missouri Lottery, along with dozens of lottery corporations around the globe, has joined forces with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University to increase public awareness about the impact of giving lottery products as gifts to minors.

“The Missouri Lottery takes responsible play very seriously,” said May Scheve Reardon, executive director of the Missouri Lottery. “We’re not only interested in raising money for public education, helping players realize dreams through life-changing prizes and offering entertainment to Missourians, we’re also in the business of promoting responsible gaming.”

NCPG Executive Director Keith Whyte explained that it’s vital to raise awareness early, because research suggests that some problem gamblers report beginning gambling during childhood.

“The holiday campaign is a way to remind people that they can still keep the fun in the holidays, but they don’t need to do so by purchasing lottery tickets as gifts for children,” said Whyte.

So, give freely this holiday season, but please give (and play) responsibly.  Thank you.

Responsible Gaming Education Month

Did you know that Missouri was the first state in the nation to recognize a statewide Responsible Gaming Education Month? Now in its ninth year, August is Responsible Gaming Education Month in Missouri. The goal of this month is to increase public awareness about responsible gaming and the availability of free treatment for problem gamblers and their loved ones.

To further promote the availability of treatment and informational and support resources, the Missouri Lottery, in conjunction with the Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling, distributed a responsible gaming payroll stuffer to Missouri state employees, responsible gaming brochures to Missouri retailers selling Missouri Lottery tickets and included information on the Alliance’s and Lottery’s websites, 888betsoff.org and Molottery.com.

Midwest Conference on Problem Gambling

The Missouri Lottery supports the Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling as part of our commitment to corporate responsibility. This week, one of the benchmarks of that support is on display in Kansas City. The 9th Annual Midwest Conference on Problem Gambling and Substance Abuse will take place in Kansas City Wednesday through Friday. Counselors and treatment providers from a five state region will converge on Missouri for training and motivation from nationally recognized researchers and speakers.

The Missouri Lottery is proud to sponsor this event. If you would like more information, click here, and if you or someone you know has a problem with gambling, free help is available at 888-Bets Off or www.888betsoff.org.

National Problem Gambling Awareness Week

Promoting responsible play is important to the Missouri Lottery. In addition to the responsible play message included on all Lottery tickets and promotional materials, the Lottery is devoting special attention to the issue during National Problem Gambling Awareness Week, March 4 - 10.

During the week, the Lottery will be distributing responsible gaming brochures to all Lottery retailers to make available to their customers; issuing an informal notification to state employees highlighting how to get help; and releasing a free public service announcement featuring former Mafia mogul Michael Franzese.

The message behind the National Council on Problem Gambling's (NCPG) 10th annual awareness campaign, "Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime," is that anybody can develop a gambling problem. According to the NCPG, 2 to 3 percent of the United States population (or 6 to 9 million Americans) will have a gambling problem in any given year. Yet, only a small number of individuals seek out services, such as treatment and self-help recovery programs.

The Lottery encourages players to play responsibly by incorporating the following tips:

• Play only for fun. 
• Never borrow money to gamble.
• Don't allow gambling to interfere with family, friends or work.
• Never gamble to win back losses.
• Never use gambling as a way to cope with emotional of physical pain.

To learn more about problem gambling, visit 888betsoff.org. To read about National Problem Gambling Awareness Week, visit npgaw.org.

 

Give responsibly

Missouri Lottery holiday Scratchers tickets make great gifts for any adult, but we request you please give responsibly. By law, Lottery products are intended for players 18 and older.

The Missouri Lottery supports responsible gambling by participating in the Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling. While we want you to have fun playing the Lottery, please remember these kicks are not for kids. Here's more about the awareness program for the holidays.

Responsible Gambling Education Month

As a charter member of the Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling, the Missouri Lottery assists in efforts to promote responsible gaming in Missouri. At the request of the Alliance, Gov. Jay Nixon once again proclaimed August as Responsible Gambling Education Month in Missouri. To learn more, of if you or someone you know has a problem with gambling, visit the 888-Bets Off website.

Midwest Conference

The Missouri Lottery, a partner in the Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling, is one of the sponsors of this week’s Midwest Conference on Problem Gambling and Substance Abuse. Presenters from all over the country will converge on Kansas City to offer training and support for counselors in Missouri and five other surrounding states. Counselors will get the latest data on various issues and receive continuing education credits to remain certified. The Missouri Lottery is proud to be a part of this effort to educate providers in the region. Learn more about the conference here.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, free help is available. Just call 1-888-Bets Off, email at freehelp@888betsoff.org or visit this website.

National Problem Gambling Awareness Week

March 6 - 12 is National Problem Gambling Awareness Week. The goal of this week is to educate the general public and health care professionals about the warning signs of problem gambling, and raise awareness about the free help available both locally and nationally.

The Missouri Lottery is a charter member of the Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling. We understand that while most Missourians will enjoy playing Lottery games responsibly, a small percentage of citizens could develop gambling problems. 

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, free help is available. Call 1-888-Bets Off, or visit 888betsoff.org to learn more. You can also send email to freehelp@888betsoff.org.