Massachusetts gambling regulator commits $275K to tackle problem gambling

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission remains squarely on top of the matter, with the regulator seeking to establish better support for problem gambling and find the root causes of the issue, joining a trend among global regulators and care providers who are interested in the why rather than dealing with the fallout of the problem.

Finding the reasons for youth problem gambling in Massachusetts

To this end, the regulator has allocated a $275,000 grant to the City of Springfield which will seek to better understand and address problem gambling and gambling-related harm. The funding itself is part of a broader effort already afoot to try and tackle the issue, as part of the watchdog’s Community Mitigation Fund.

The idea is to spearhead a project that is built around the Springfield Young Adult Gambling Project, which will seek to better understand the factors that contribute to the increased incidence of gambling among youths.

Commenting on this, Interim Chair Jordan Maynard welcomed the opportunity to once again seek and understand what is happening when it comes to gambling-related harms and how they are experienced by young people. There is already a growing international consensus that young people are more vulnerable to gambling harm.

To compound matters, exposure to gambling at a young age could also have a more serious impact and shape a life-long unhealthy relationship with the activity.

"Working directly with engaged young people in Springfield will help researchers and the Commission fully understand the impacts of gambling on this population and lead to additional programs designed to mitigate potential harms," Maynard said.

Maynard was joined by Commissioner of Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, Helen Caulton-Harris, who shed light on the research that needs to be done to better understand the issue at hand, with gambling posing a particularly difficult problem.

Addressing the root cause of problem gambling takes effort

The current funding can offer a possible way forward to understanding how gambling harm impacts young people and what solutions there may be planned. Caulton-Harris added:

"This will provide a space that values lived expertise from marginalized communities to share their own stories."

As to the regulator itself, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission prides itself on being one of the most involved gambling regulators which are seeking to also address the underlying pitfalls of gambling. The Community Mitigation Funds channels funds to ensure that the state has a better understanding of its problems and acts preemptively and with understanding.

Although much more research work needs to be done, the right steps have already been taken.

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