{"id":14141,"date":"2025-03-03T13:47:47","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T18:47:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncpgambling.org\/news\/\/"},"modified":"2025-03-11T20:22:41","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T00:22:41","slug":"seeking-understanding-pgam-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncpgambling.org\/news\/seeking-understanding-pgam-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Seeking Understanding: Problem Gambling Awareness Month 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

The annual observance of Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM) begins on March 1<\/span>st<\/span>, 2025. PGAM plays a vital role in enhancing public understanding, breaking down barriers to care, and fostering open discussions about the impact of gambling on individuals, families, and communities. It unites various stakeholders, including public health organizations, advocacy groups, professional sports leagues, and gambling operators. Through this collective effort, we aim to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and increase access to resources, ultimately creating a foundation to support those affected by problem gambling year-round.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Problem Gambling Awareness Month 2025<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

PGAM is intentionally aligned with the NCAA basketball tournament, a time when gambling is a frequent topic of conversation.\u00a0March is a prime opportunity for organizations to promote a better understanding of what is and isn’t true about problem gambling.\u00a0As millions of people engage with the tournament, it offers a unique moment to raise awareness about the risks of gambling, educate the public, and challenge common misconceptions. By leveraging this heightened attention, PGAM helps foster open discussions, reduce stigma, and increase access to resources, ensuring that conversations about problem gambling are timely and ongoing throughout the year.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s PGAM theme, \u201cSeeking Understanding,\u201d aims to raise awareness of problem gambling as a serious yet often misunderstood mental health condition. Building understanding within the general public is essential, but dispelling long-held myths requires both patience and persistence.\u00a0Overcoming misconceptions is crucial to fostering a\u00a0more accurate understanding of problem gambling and its impact.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year\u2019s PGAM theme, \u201cEvery Story Matters,\u201d highlighted the importance of sharing the personal experiences of those impacted by problem gambling. This year, we can build on that momentum and begin addressing some of the questions that storytelling can raise for our audiences. While these questions may be uncomfortable, repetitive, or challenging to answer, it is our responsibility as advocates and awareness-builders to engage with them thoughtfully and persistently.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some tips addressing questions about problem gambling during #PGAM2025:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n