Ohio doubles down on helping its problem gamblers

Ohio is determined to set a national benchmark for helping and aiding people who may suffer from problem gambling disorder. Although the state has already rolled out a self-exclusion program that helps consumers who enrol to stay away from all forms of gambling, courtesy of Gamban, the Buckeye State believes there is more that can be done to ensure the safety of consumers.

With some 2-3% of the United States’ population considered to be suffering from a gambling problem, Ohio, a state of 11.78m people, is keen to get ahead of the issue. Although tackling the problem of gambling and raising awareness is one side of the problem, another is the recovery journey which is often long, difficult, and punctuated by relapses that compound the issue for many people who are struggling.

Cory Brown, Manager of Problem Gambling Services at Ohio Casino Control Commission, believes there is one significant aspect that makes the recovery journey rockier than it should be, and this is the financial tally that often weighs down individuals who are willing to forego their habits but find themselves in a downward debt spiral.

This is why Brown announced that Ohio’s problem gambling clinicians will now work with GamFin, a company that specializes in offering financial help to indebted individuals, and which is aware of how gambling addiction wreaks havoc on personal finances in the first place.

Thanks to GamFin, individuals who seek help in Ohio will now also receive input from financial experts. "Questions about money can be overwhelming and uncomfortable, so GamFin can help you carry the load," Brown rightly notes, bringing

Brown assured that GamFin’s financial counselors are perfectly capable of approaching each player individually and understanding their unique predicament and the financial hardships they face to chart a path to recovery that is not overshadowed by the seeming impossibility of getting their finances together.

In other words, Ohio now wants to help problem gamblers to also get back on their feet financially by offering something that is often missing from treatment services – a way to recover in tangible financial terms which could be motivation for many patients to move forward. This is what Brown believes as well.

The rollout of Gamban was one of the first steps to ensure that consumers are protected – the arrival of GamFin is one of the latest.

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