Virginia Lottery and Virginia Council on Problem Gambling to Raise Awareness of National Problem Gambling Awareness Month

The Virginia Lottery and Virginia Council on Problem Gambling (VACPG) have teamed up to help raise awareness of National Problem Gambling Awareness Month with the help of a public service announcement (PSA) for broadcast which encourages responsible play.

This year, the Virginia Lottery has suspended all radio and television advertising of its products during the first half of National Problem Gambling Awareness Month.

The PSA promotes the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline, which assists people who think they or loved ones may have a gambling problem. It emphasises that a problem gambler can make a positive change by seeking help.

The PSA is just one way in which the Lottery, in partnership with the VACPG, is working to build a robust Responsible Gaming programme. The Lottery was selected as one of the first lotteries nationwide to participate in a pilot responsible gaming verification programme designed by the National Council on Problem Gambling and the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries.

“For most people, gambling is recreational fun, but for some people, it can create problems. Promoting responsible play has always been part of our DNA at the Virginia Lottery. We are committed to helping to raise awareness in the Commonwealth for people who think they or a loved one may have problems,” Kevin Hall, Executive Director of Virginia Lottery, said.

“Promoting awareness about problem gambling is key to preventing difficulties among members of our communities. The knowledge of how a recreational activity can become problematic, understanding the warning signs, and factors that place people at risk can help minimize gambling-related problems. We are fortunate that we have a Lottery that is making a commitment towards responsible gaming and supporting efforts to keep gambling fun,” VACPG President Carolyn Hawley said.