I regret that it’s been so long since my last post. While the absence of activity can have the appearance of, well, the absence of activity, the opposite is actually true. Much has happened in the past year, both in the field of problem gambling prevention and treatment, and in my personal journey. The past year has been a whirlwind of conferences, workshops, public forums, and other activities all aimed at tackling the alarming rate of problematic gambling in our communities. If you haven’t seen the Illinois STATEWIDE GAMBLING AND PROBLEM GAMBLING NEEDS ASSESSMENT, you really should check it out. About 10% of adult Illinoisans were found to have either gambling disorder or at-risk gambling behavior. That’s over 1 million people, and doesn’t include minors or incarcerated individuals (two groups that were not included in the study, but have been found to have an even higher rate of disordered gambling than the general population)! So, to say those of us in the prevention and treatment space have our hands full is an understatement.

In addition to this, I’ve taken an important step in my own process. You see, when I speak about problem gambling, I’m not only talking about what I’ve learned from training, professional development, and working with clients. My own experiences with problem gambling span over a decade. That’s about 12 years of acting in ways I couldn’t understand and felt ashamed and scared of, followed by another 10 years or so NOT gambling, but not exactly recovering either. It’s only in recent years, as hiding and compartmentalizing my own history has become increasingly uncomfortable that I realized NOT gambling is not the same thing as recovering. When I attended trainings on treating gambling disorder and saw myself in the examples they shared; when I filled out self-exclusion paperwork with someone I used to play Caribbean Stud next to, sitting there sweating, terrified he would recognize me; these are the types of events that told me I hadn’t actually healed from the long years of compulsive gambling. About a year ago I was checking into my room at a Responsible Gambling conference in Las Vegas. I was a speaker, and my room was covered by the conference. When the clerk looked up my name, paused, looked at me, then said she needed to check with her supervisor, I was flooded with panic. I thought “Do they remember me?! Did I do something here that is in there system?” Now, I never got so upset losing that I cussed out a dealer, or threw my cards, slammed my hands on the table or anything like that. What I thought I could have possibly done that the casino would “know” about all these years later, I have no idea. But I stood there stick still, feeling “found out” until she came back and explained there was confusion because the conference organizer had booked my room. Anyway, the cigarette smoke smell of the place had taken me back to long, sleepless nights, where I would toss and turn thinking about all I had lost during a night of gambling. That, combined with the confusion at check-in, took me quickly and unexpectedly to a dark and shameful place. So, I now selectively share my own experiences. I go to meetings, and connect with others who’ve been impacted by problem gambling. I have come onboard working part-time with an incredible company where former athletes who are recovering from gambling addiction share their (our) stories to help educate young athletes about their unique risks. I work on the shame and guilt that seems to have hung out in the back of my psyche for all these years, waiting to pounce. So, don’t count me out. I might have taken a knee. I may be a little punch-weary. But there’s still a lot of fight left in me.

You’ve seen in previous posts that we have a remarkable group of young people using their creative talents to raise awareness of teen gambling problems. They are also raising awareness of problem gambling in general, because young people are affected when an adult in their lives experience gambling problems. The above video is just one example of the shocking degree of talent these young people have. This group member wrote a song about problem gambling, and has now performed it in the community three times. Prepare to get full body chills as you view this impromptu rendition she treated us to after walking in a parade and handing out information about problem gambling prevention.

Are you blown away yet? Well, check this out:

Another group member has been working on some artwork for t-shirts that will be worn by group members as they go out into the community to educate both teens and adults. These young people are truly astounding. Want to learn more about this group? Send me an email with your questions, either through the contact page or to ethielen@nicasa.org.

I used to collect autographs from the fighters I most admired and had the opportunity to meet. That all ended when I was privileged to meet the greatest of all time. I still treasure my “ALI” hat, that he signed on the underside of the bill. I mean, how to you top that? You don’t. Drop the mic, I’ve reached the top. Collecting autographs or memorabilia, having posters on your wall, or an image of our favorite athlete as a screensaver; our relationship to our favorite athletes is special whether or not we ever get to meet them in person. Thankfully, I never got into sports betting. And it’s hard to imagine ever betting against any of the fighters I loved routing for: Julio Cesar Chavez, Roy Jones, Jr., Evander Holyfield, Oscar DeLaHoya, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, Christy Martin, Hector Camacho, Riddick Bowe, James Toney, Vinnie Pazienza, Kostya Tszyu…okay I’ll stop now!

But the availability of sports wagering following many states legalizing this activity has opened up the door for betting right alongside enjoying our favorite sports. It also creates the potential for the unique relationship between player and fan to be altered. A sports fan who chooses to engage in sports betting would be wise to keep this in mind before getting caught up in placing bets. “How will I feel if I bet on my team and they lose?” “What if my favorite player fumbles a play and I lose this bet?” “What if I have better odds of winning by betting against my team?” These are all important questions for a potential bettor to ask themselves.

Check out this article from Sports Illustrated about how players have already begun experiencing backlash from bettors. Don’t think this could be you? Keep in mind gambling in and of itself can be a slippery slope. No one starts out planning to gamble in a disordered way. Likewise, no sports bettor starts out thinking “I’m going to lose my love of this sport, come to hate my favorite players, and seethe with anger at the athletes when I lose a bet.”

So, if someone chooses to bet, sticking to some pre-determined ground rules makes sense. What are your boundaries? What will you never do? Can you put that to paper? Commit that to a friend? Many sports wagering apps have tools for limit setting, time outs, and other “responsible gambling” features. Other apps, like Gamble Responsibly America (available for free download through the app store), and websites like responsibleplay.org and mywagerscore.com have tips and tools for trying to keep your eye on the ball, and not letting sports betting spin out of control. And it’s never a bad idea to talk to a counselor to explore your own individual risk for disordered gambling, to learn strategies for lower-risk gambling, and to make adjustments as you go if betting doesn’t go the way you thought it would.

No matter what, “don’t let sports betting get in the way of the game!”

We are so honored to be one of the first 4 Agility Grants awarded by the National Council on Problem Gambling. Funded by the National Football League Foundation, with additional support from FanDuel, this project will expand our Teen Problem Gambling Creative Group. This group has already done an incredible job raising awareness of teen problem gambling, and we’re now looking to grow. Do you know a teen looking to use their creativity to make a positive impact on the community? Are you an adult with skills and resources to support their efforts (ex. graphic design, marketing, community activism, connections with youth athletics, etc.)? Scan the code on the above flier to connect with us and learn more.

I heard a quote that came to mind as I listened to two powerful speakers at recent Problem Gambling Awareness Month events. Their presentations are available for view in this post. The quote I found summed up the courage, vulnerability, and strength they (and other speakers) demonstrated when telling their stories of adversity, overcoming obstacles and thriving. Here it is:

“Strength is not the absence of weakness, but instead, the courage to show vulnerability and speak the truth.” (I don’t know who should be credited for these words, so contact me if you do, so I can properly credit them.)

As athletes, we sometimes hold on to core values, like the value of strength, long after our days of competing are over. And this is okay. But, if we keep a narrow view of strength, we might fall prey to thinking we can “power through” something like a gambling problem, or that struggling with gambling makes us weak. But what if we took our cue from these women and their strength of character? What if we realized that to admit vulnerability and to say “I’m struggling. I need help.” and to spread a message of hope, is where our true strength lies?

There is a precedent for this in our own backgrounds. If we’re falling short in a certain area, cardio vascular endurance, explosive power, a specific movement, we work to identify that, seek the help of a coach or training partner, and build up the area that is lacking. So, athletes, you have all the strength you need. It’s already there. Maybe you just need to look at it a little differently. Take it from another angle. Please take some time to watch one or both of these presentations, and draw strength from their stories. Take care, everyone!

If you watch the short clip above, do you see a climb, or a fall? As a former athlete who knows the importance of finding new and healthy (and age appropriate!) ways to stay competitive, I’m drawn to the challenge of climbing. You reach up and grab that first hold, lift yourself up, find your next hold, your next step. You wonder if you’ll fall. You worry about how you’ll land if/when you do fall. After falling, you have to decide whether to even try again, and, if so, what to do the same and what to do differently.

Anyone seeking to make changes around gambling might find some of this familiar. What would the first step be? Deciding to quit? Cut back? How would I do it? What course would I take? What if I can’t do it? Who’s there to catch me if I fall? With addictive behaviors, it’s easy to take an all or nothing approach. A slip can cause someone to become disheartened, to think they just can’t do it. Finding the balance, the shades of gray, trusting the process (there was a note saying this very thing taped to the wall at the above indoor rock-climbing place!), can be difficult. And for athletes, maybe even more so. Have you heard the phrase “you’re either first or you’re last”? Making changes around gambling or any other addictive behavior requires cultivating a different mindset; demands finding and focusing on hope, getting up after every fall, and trying again.

We had a workshop yesterday as part of our Problem Gambling Awareness Month activities. Our guest speaker was Dr. Sandra Adell, professor, author, actor and former model, who read excerpts from her memoir “Confessions of a Slot Machine Queen” and from an upcoming publication “Black Women Speak Out About Casino Gambling.”

Dr. Adell’s talk was positive and empowering. It got me to thinking about the importance of hope and perseverance. Gambling problems can have devastating effects on all parts of one’s life; their relationships, finances, work, health, and emotional well-being. These areas can take a lot of time to address, even after gambling has stopped. For some, it may feel like an unbearable weight, an impossible climb. In telling her story, Dr. Adell emphasized the power of recovery, healing, of being in community. No one has to carry the weight alone. There is always someone willing to belay you, always support to cushion a fall. So, if you struggle to make changes around gambling, find your support network. You are not alone. Check out http://www.gamblersinrecovery.com for 100’s of online support meetings. Call or text the National Gambling Hotline at 1-800-522-4700.

Above all, keep climbing. You may get scraped, bruised and sore, but I promise you the view is spectacular.

Want to learn more about how we work to raise awareness of problem gambling and the help that’s available? email us at gambling@nicasa.org

Today is National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). According to the Women’s Sports Federation, “This celebration inspires girls and women to play and be active, to realize their full power. The confidence, strength and character gained through sports participation are the very tools girls and women need to become strong leaders in sports and life.”

Women’s sports has come a long way. To share an example from my own amateur boxing career: back in 1997, I think, I fought at a USA Boxing event that was to be filmed and aired on ESPN2. One of the commentators was Al Bernstein. Are you kidding me? I was going to get to hear what this legendary commentator thought about me and my fight? I was beyond excited. My jab was on fire that night, and I won by TKO. I was heartbroken to learn afterwards that the camera crew had packed up after filming the first hour of the event only. My match was immediately following this. I don’t think Al even realized it, as he had still been there watching and commenting. My match was the only knockout of the night, and I would argue, the most exciting. But it didn’t air. I believe it was due to being in the early days of women’s boxing that we were not extended the same respect as our male counterparts, where the entire event would be filmed and the most exciting and noteworthy bouts highlighted on air. You may be asking yourself, “what does any of this have to do with gambling?” I’ll get there, but I just needed to get that out, as it’s still one big regret I have from so long ago. I missed out on the validation that would have come from such a great presence in the sport weighing in on my performance. (Another quick example: a local journalist had mentioned one of my upcoming fights as a “girls’ tiff.” My stepfather went right into the newsroom and gave him heck. I ended that match by knockout as well. Some ‘tiff!”)

Sigh. Okay, move on. With champions like Christy Martin and Layla Ali, women’s boxing has since gained the respect it deserves, and those who devote themselves to the sweet science are no longer seen as a sideshow, something to be leered at or ignored. I am forever grateful to my Coach, Matt DeForce, my old gym, the Lower Eastside Sports Center in Erie, PA, and everyone who supported and encouraged me while I pursued something that honestly came with equal parts pain and frustration along with the successes and satisfaction. It’s through the experiences I had and the confidence I gained that I can stand up in front of crowds and discuss tough topics, like problem gambling. The shame and confusion that can come with experiencing disordered gambling add insult to injury. They can make getting help and getting well seem almost impossible.

There was a time when a woman could walk into a support group for problem gambling, look around, and see no other women. It would not have been uncommon, after getting up the guts to talk about how slot machines are ruining her life, to be told “come back when you have a real addiction.” You see, there can be, to some extent, gender differences when it comes to games of choice. Women tend to play slot machines, men tend to sports bet, play cards, dice, or bet on the horses. This isn’t always the case, and I do believe that many female athletes gravitate more towards the typically “male” games. I have also known many males that got caught up playing video slots or video poker, so these gender differences definitely have exceptions. All of this to say, some ways back, women didn’t often get a welcoming and validating response when and if they reached out for help. And asking for help is no easy thing. When it doesn’t go well, that person often descends deeper into the addictive behavior.

As the years have passed, gender barriers have been breaking down in this area, just as in sports. More women can be seen “in the rooms.” I am so proud of one woman I know who started a support group, in order to help other females impacted by problem gambling to have one meeting, at least, led by another female. And online treatment and support makes it easier for individuals to find groups that feel most meaningful and comfortable for them. Every step forward is a step in the right direction. Let’s keep it going.

I am piggybacking on NGWSD this year through the end of March, National Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM), to raise awareness of problem gambling and the help that’s available. I’ve just begun their 50 mile challenge, that goes through June 23rd, which is the 50 year anniversary of Title IX, which in part seeks to provide equal academic and athletic access to women. My goal will be to complete my 50 miles by the end of PGAM. I will make periodic posts on social media about my progress, so keep your eye on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok pages. So, my shin splints will be well worth it, if while I’m running the trails, roads, or tying up the gym’s treadmill, my gambling awareness shirts or posts are seen by even just one person who needs to know they’re not alone; if just one person is given the confidence they need to call 1-800-GAMBLER (in Illinois) or the national helpline 1-800-542-4700.

What we are exposed to matters. Right now, sports wagering is so widely spoken about, advertised and engaged in that young people can’t help but notice. Some parents are betting on the sidelines of youth sports, and some are even helping their kids to place bets. What many people don’t realize is this: exposing young brains to gambling puts them at risk for developing a gambling problem. Research in brain development tells us that this is just like early exposure to alcohol and other substances. It hurts kids and can lead to a potentially fatal addictive disorder. Don’t think gambling disorder is deadly? Consider this: disordered gamblers have a suicide attempt rate higher than that of any other addictive disorder. So, let’s take this seriously. And remember that athletes are just one group at increased risk for disordered gambling. Adolescents are another. So, you can see why gambling and youth sports are a bad combination.

A recent campaign put out by Stop Predatory Gambling released these startling statistics:

Parents, coaches, teachers and other caring adults: if you choose to participate in sports wagering, don’t involve kids or teens. Enjoy sports in a way that focuses on the excitement and energy of the event, the players’ records, the punch stats, all that; not the odds, the over-under, or any of that.

In the rare event you see an ad for “responsible gambling” (see prior post for thoughts on this term), like for the NFL’s newly launched site responsibleplay.org, use it as a chance to highlight that some people are hurt by sports betting. The number and intensity of ads encouraging sports betting are really indicators of the amount of money to be lost, not won. After all, how much do you think it costs to run all those ads? The revenue generated from sports wagering is in the billions. Revenue = players’ losses. Enough is being lost on sports wagering already. Let’s not lose our kids, too!

Want a free workshop on teen gambling? Workshops are held by Zoom and available at no cost to Illinoisans. Just fill out this contact form. Not from Illinois but want to sit in on an Illinois-based event? No problem. Just fill out the form and we’ll let you know what’s available. We also can provide public awareness materials, like the flier shown below, to youth sports leagues and athletic departments. Let us know what you need and we’ll get it to you.

Also, please watch and share this short educational clip put together with some fantastic and brilliant volunteers from our Teen Problem Gambling Focus Group. Who better to teach about teen gambling than the teens themselves?!

Remember, don’t let sports betting get in the way of the game!

We recently had former WORLD CHAMPION boxer Christy Martin in to speak to the community about domestic violence, addiction, and her remarkable story of survival and resilience. Though gambling was not part of Christy’s story, she highlighted the reality that you never can know what someone is going through behind closed doors.

I remember as an amateur boxer coming up at the time she had reached the highest levels of success in professional women’s boxing, thinking that she had it all. I admired, and let’s be honest, envied, that she could train full-time and dedicate herself fully to the sport. After all, she lived and breathed boxing, with her coach also being her husband and manager. In her workshop with us, Christy stated “you all though I was on top of the world. But the world was really on top of me.” You see, it was all a façade. The more success in the ring Christy achieved, the more her husband and coach tightened his grip on every aspect of her life. From installing cameras throughout their home, to preventing her from being out of his sight long enough even to go to the salon. How else could he keep her from getting help, from letting people know that she was being abused and terrorized in her own home, that she had turned to drugs as an escape?

I look back and am ashamed at my petty envy of her situation. I imagine I would not have survived her circumstances, had I been in her shoes. The situation was truly that dire. It was life and death serious. She survived a brutal attack and attempted murder, recovered from her addiction, and now shares her story with others to shine the light on some very dark issues.

I heard in a song recently something like “you want to be great? Put the “e” after the “t” and add “ful.” We are forever GRATEFUL for Christy’s bravery, humility, and generosity. People who struggle with such issues behind closed doors are also in life or death circumstances. People with gambling disorder have a suicide attempt rate higher than that of ANY OTHER ADDICTION. So please don’t assume you know what someone’s life is like by what you see on the outside. I’ve seen gamblers whose beautiful homes are empty on the inside. No furniture; knickknacks; nothing. Everything pawned due to the never-ending loss-chasing. And to hit this idea home even further: another guest speaker (Ray, see screen shot below) recently shared that, at the height of his gambling addiction, he almost chose suicide when faced with not having money for presents for his children at the holidays.

What’s our takeaway? Gambling disorder and other addictive disorders are potentially fatal. It’s imperative that we do everything we can to prevent them, that we help athletes and others who have increased risk learn about their specific vulnerability, and that we extend compassion and understanding to those who struggle. And let’s not forget GRATITUDE. To those, like Christy, and Ray, who share their stories so openly in the hopes that others can come into the light. Thanks to you and every other person that pays it forward to help others in similar circumstances. You are truly a GIFT.

If you would like to attend a workshop like one of those mentioned in this post, please contact me at gamblingservices@nicasa.org. We provide free workshops to any Illinois group to raise awareness of problem gambling.