Education and Public Information

When the Mississippi Council (MCPCG) opened its offices in February 1996, there were less than one dozen counselors with any gambling addiction training in Mississippi. After only seven months, the Council held its first training in October 1996, during which 70 counselors received intensive training. In February 1997, the Council held its second two-day training course and this time an additional 100 counselors attended. At this workshop counselors have the opportunity to earn 30 hours of gambling specific training toward becoming a certified compulsive gambling counselor. Training is currently scheduled as needed based on the number of participants interested in certification.

The Council also conducts an annual workshop in the spring. Participants attending this workshop can learn about new and current problem gambling related issues. Both of these workshops have educated healthcare professionals about screening, assessing and treating problem gamblers.

The MCPCG has divided the information presented in the intensive training sessions into two 15-hour domains. In order to ensure adequate training MCPCG offers training manuals to each participant.

MCPCG has established a Certification Board consisting of noted leaders in the healthcare industry. In its efforts to ensure the highest standards of treatment available, the Council has developed a stringent certification system. At this time, we have several clinicians in the process of becoming certified compulsive gambling counselors and twenty (20) who have received their certification.

Certification Program

The Council developed a Responsible Gaming Training Program designed to provide basic knowledge and increase awareness among casino employees about problem and compulsive gambling. The training includes facts about compulsive gamblers, profile of a compulsive gambler, signs of compulsive gambling in the workplace, types of gamblers and treatment options.

The Council published a booklet entitled “Mississippi’s Youth At Play” which is designed to educate Mississippi’s teens on the issues of problem gambling. With the current surge in today’s society, there is an elevated risk to our youth. This resource guide deals with the history of gambling, its effects on today’s youth and key issues regarding addiction and recovery. It was designed to be the groundwork for educating teens on the realities and consequences of gambling. The activities in this booklet are appropriate for upper elementary, middle school, junior high and high school students.

The Council also developed a youth brochure, “Too Young for a Gambling Problem? Don’t Bet On It”, which is targeted toward youth and is available upon request. The brochure includes the types of gambling activities, teen gambling warning signs and a list of questions to help determine if the teen may be having a problem.

Over the past ten years, the Council has donated a book each year about problem and compulsive gambling, to almost 400 middle schools, high schools, junior colleges and universities. The books are placed in their libraries to be used by students for research.

During the fall of 1996, MCPCG contracted with Mississippi State University and nationally renowned researcher, Dr. Rachel Volberg, to conduct the first prevalence study on problem and probable pathological gambling in Mississippi.

This research was significant in that it found that Mississippi had one of the highest rates of current problem and pathological gambling in the U.S. The study also found that Mississippians had the third highest lifetime problem gambling rate in the nation.

MCPCG developed a database for help line resources and a literature review on pathological gambling research and resources.