Louisiana Lottery Observes National Problem Gambling Awareness Month

During the month of March, the Louisiana Lottery is joining the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral Health, the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling (LACG) and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), in their efforts to educate the public about the signs of problem gambling and offer options for getting help.

“Louisiana Lottery games are meant to be a fun form of entertainment. We are determined to help our players keep it that way by stressing the importance of playing responsibly and promoting the state’s resources for those who may have a gambling problem,” said Lottery President Rose Hudson.

Playing responsibly means:
 

• Gambling only for fun.
• Setting a dollar limit and sticking to it.
• Thinking of the money spent as the cost of entertainment.
• Accepting losing as part of the game.
• Never borrowing money to gamble.
• Not allowing gambling to interfere with relationships with family, friends or work.
• Never gambling to win back losses.
• Not gambling as a way to cope with emotional or physical pain.

As a provider of games of chance, the Lottery takes the issue of problem gambling very seriously.  In addition to providing educational literature at its retailer play centers, the Lottery also includes the problem gambling helpline number on its tickets, advertisements, news releases and sales materials.

“In all of our promotional efforts through the year, we encourage players to adhere to responsible play techniques, but we take a special opportunity to focus on it during the national observance,” Hudson added.

Per the Lottery’s statute, the first $500,000 in Lottery proceeds each year goes to the Problem and Compulsive Gambling dedicated state fund that is managed through the Louisiana Department of Health-Office of Behavioral Health. The funds are used to assist with problem gambling services, prevention and treatment programs, such as the state Helpline number, 1-877-770-STOP (7867), which is answered by the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling.

More information and resources can be found on the Lottery’s website, www.louisianalottery.com/play-responsibly, the Office of Behavioral Health’s Addictive Disorders Services, www.ldh.la.gov/AddictionRecovery, on the LACG website, www.helpforgambling.org, or on the NCPG website, www.ncpgambling.org.