The Lottery Highlights Resources for Problem Gambling Awareness Month

PHOENIX – (March 1, 2024) – March is National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and the Arizona Lottery encourages consumers to Play Responsibly. Through the Please Play Responsibly Program and Problem Gambling Program the Lottery remains committed to resolving the omnipresent threat of gambling disorder.

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), repeated problem gambling activity is a sign of gambling disorder. Gambling disorder can cause issues for the person, their families, and society as a whole. Some signs that you or a loved one may have gambling disorder are:

• Need to gamble with increasing amounts to achieve the desired excitement.
• Restless or irritable when trying to cut down or stop gambling.
• Repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back on or stop gambling.
• Lying to hide gambling activity.
• Risking or losing a close relationship, a job, or a school or job opportunity because of gambling. 

“The Arizona Lottery recognizes that gambling addiction can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or socioeconomic status,” said Arizona Lottery CEO, Alec Esteban Thomson. “We are committed to doing our part to promote responsible gaming by raising awareness on the signs of problem gambling and providing resources to help those who may struggle with a gambling problem.”

The Arizona Lottery explicitly promotes responsible play in our advertisements and on our website. We also prominently display winning odds disclosures and the phrase "play responsibly" on our tickets. On our tickets, we also include a call to action for problem gamblers who might need assistance but are unsure of where to turn.

The Lottery is not the only State agency that works to alleviate problem gambling. The Arizona Department of Gaming - Division of Problem Gambling is committed to a public health approach to address problem gambling issues. This takes into consideration biological, behavioral, economic, cultural, policy, and environmental factors influencing gambling and health. 

Arizona Lottery Gives Back funding helps to provide effective statewide problem gambling prevention, treatment, and education programs. In Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), the Lottery provided $300,000 from ticket sales to the Division of Problem Gambling totaling $5.7 million in funding since Fiscal Year 2005 (FY05).

Arizonans who may struggle with gambling can access personal, confidential treatment and recovery services by calling the Division of Problem Gambling’s 24/7 Helpline at 1-800 NEXT-STEP or by texting NEXT-STEP to 53342. Additional resources such as Gambler’s Anonymous, a self-screening quiz, and more can be found at problemgambling.az.gov.