Arizona experiences a spike in gambling self-exclusions

• The Arizona Department of Gaming has sounded an alarm over the number of problem gamblers excluding themselves from the activity: 651
• The Department has launched a new voluntary, non-judgmental, and confidential program seeking to aid
• The program is meant to reflect on one specific truth: that problem gambling recovery does not happen in a vacuum and not just by excluding, but is an ongoing process

The Arizona Department of Gaming has experienced a record number of sign-ups from gamblers seeking to limit their habits, as they struggle to control their gambling spending or wrestle with gambling-related harm.

Arizona steps up efforts to assist recovering gambling addicts

With 651 new signees, a record number of people have excluded themselves from state-licensed gambling options. The periods of the exclusions vary from one to five to ten years.

At the same time, the Arizona Department of Gaming is expanding its commitment to supporting people struggling with gambling-related harm by offering free financial counseling, which is one of the core pillars that should go hand-in-hand with an individual’s recovery from gambling.

Commenting on the initiative, Director of the Division of Problem Gambling, Elise Mikkelsen, said:

"Financial counseling services help address immediate financial issues that people may be encountering because of their gambling. It helps them take control, manage their debt, come up with a spending plan, and set up guardrails, so to speak."

Self-exclusion is a strong first step, but it should be enhanced by providing such individuals with additional tools to steer clear of harmful habits, as well as teaching them a rigorous financial culture to help them on their way to recovery.

The program also seeks to break stigma, and so it offers confidential and private help, with no judgement rendered on the people seeking help. The key is to get more people involved, Mikkelsen explains.

Self-exclusion is not the end of the gambling recovery journey

But recovery also should come with adjusting expectations - just because someone is educating themselves about personal finance and how to manage debt, or recover from gambling, this does not mean the damage done from excessive gambling would be immediately erased.

The program is part of a long-term recovery path that wants to assist recovering gamblers and help them make the correct decisions as they seek to get their life back on track.

"We know that nationwide, actually worldwide, gambling is increasing. There are more opportunities than ever before, more genres. People are carrying around their cell phones, and casinos are opening all the time," the director added.

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