March 16, 2023 -- Boston
WBUR talks to Gaming Commissioner Eileen O'Brien about sports betting coming to Massachusetts.
Listen to the news segment here.
Massachusetts Gambling News
Online sports betting is in Massachusetts. What's that mean for young people?
The Tenth Annual Gambling Disorder Screening Day is Tuesday, March 14!
For the 10th year, the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Aliiance is hosting Gambling Disorder Screening Day on March 14th. Keep reading for details on how you can get involved!
What is Gambling Disorder Screening Day?
Gambling Disorder leads to financial, emotional, social, occupational, and physical harms, yet many cases go undetected and untreated. Failure to detect gambling harm is due, in part, to limited screening for this problem. Gambling Disorder Screening Day is an international event designed to increase awareness of gambling harm, and support and encourage providers to screen for Gambling Disorder in a variety of settings. This event was established by the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard medical school teaching hospital in 2014. Screening Day occurs every year on the second Tuesday of Problem Gambling Awareness Month (March).
Why should I participate in Screening Day?
Screening Day supports patient- and client-facing organizations in identifying individuals who may have Gambling Disorder and who should seek further assessment by building the capacity of these organizations to screen through free educational materials, tools, and resources. On a larger scale, Screening Day raises awareness of, and encourages conversations about, Gambling Disorder.
There are two main ways to participate in Screening Day:
- Hosts, also called Screeners, are client-facing individuals or organizations (such as mental health providers) who conduct Gambling Disorder screens with their patients/clients on Screening Day.
- Supporters are non-client-facing individuals or organizations who support the mission of Screening Day. Supporters spread awareness about screening for Gambling Disorder and promote Screening Day.
Hosting a Screening Day Event
Hosting a Screening Day event has never been easier! The Division on Addiction’s free Gambling Disorder Screening Day Toolkit includes an array of educational content, treatment and recovery resources, and promotional materials. Some of the materials found in our Toolkit include:
- An instructional guide and informational video on how to host a Screening Day event.
- Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS) – A three-item brief screen for Gambling Disorder available in both printable and electronic forms. The electronic version has been translated into 22 languages.
- Screening Day Resources for Hosts & Supporters – A compilation of resources to make hosting Screening Day easy, including BBGS Pocket Screeners (available in English, Spanish, and simplified Chinese, max of 50/language), a customizable Screening Day Flyer, hotline/helpline lists and referral information, and a free self-help workbook (available in a variety of languages).
- Information about Gambling Disorder – Videos and brief educational summaries about Gambling Disorder and addiction.
We hope you find these resources helpful! If you do end up hosting a Screening Day event, we’d love to hear how it went. Please complete our optional Host Data Reporting Form. This form allows us to track Screening Day’s reach, outcomes, and areas for improvement.
Massachusetts Sports Betting Bill Awaits Governor's Signature
Boston, MA -- August 1, 2022
MA House and Senate committee members sent a bill to the governor's desk in the early morning hours of August 1, 2022. Governor Baker's has until August 12th to sign the bill and officially bring sports betting to Massachustts. You can read the enacted bill here: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H5164/BillHistory
Massachusetts sports betting: Lawmakers reach deal including some collegiate betting as session ends
Boston, MA -- August 1, 2022
Massachusetts Legislators reach a last-minute agreement on a Sports Betting Bill in Massachusetts.
Read the MassLive article here.
Today is the Ninth Annual Gambling Disorder Screening Day!
The Division on Addiction at the Cambridge Health Alliance is once again hosting the Annual Gambling Disorder Screening Day on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Please read on to see how you can participate!
What is Gambling Disorder Screening Day?
Gambling Disorder leads to financial, emotional, social, occupational, and physical harms, yet many cases go undetected and untreated. Failure to detect gambling harm is due, in part, to limited screening for this problem. Gambling Disorder Screening Day is an international grassroots event designed to increase awareness of gambling harm, and support and encourage providers to screen for Gambling Disorder in a variety of settings. This event was established by the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard medical school teaching hospital in 2014. Screening Day occurs every year on the second Tuesday of Problem Gambling Awareness Month (March).
Why should I participate in Screening Day?
Screening Day supports patient- and client-facing organizations in identifying individuals who may have Gambling Disorder and who should seek further assessment by building the capacity of these organizations to screen through free educational materials, tools, and resources. On a larger scale, Screening Day normalizes, raises awareness of, and encourages conversations about Gambling Disorder. Your involvement – whether as a Screening Day Host or as a Supporter – is vital to the success of this event.
How can I participate in Screening Day?
There are two main ways to participate in Screening Day:
- Hosts, also called Screeners, are client-facing individuals or organizations (such as mental health providers) who conduct Gambling Disorder screens with their patients/clients on Screening Day.
- Supporters are non-client-facing individuals or organizations who support the mission of Screening Day. Supporters spread awareness about screening for Gambling Disorder and promote Screening Day.
Information for Hosts
Hosting a Screening Day event has never been easier! The Division on Addiction’s free Gambling Disorder Screening Day Toolkit includes an array of educational content, treatment and recovery resources, and promotional materials. Some of the materials found in our Toolkit include:
- An instructional guide and informational video on how to host a Screening Day event.
- Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS) – A three-item brief screen for Gambling Disorder available in both printable and electronic forms. The electronic version has been translated into 22 languages.
- Screening Day Resources for Hosts & Supporters – A compilation of resources to make hosting Screening Day easy, including BBGS Pocket Screeners (order 50 for no cost), a customizable Screening Day Flyer, hotline/helpline lists and referral information, and a free self-help workbook.
- Information about Gambling Disorder – Videos and brief educational summaries about Gambling Disorder and addiction.
We hope you find these resources helpful! If you do end up hosting a Screening Day event, we’d love to hear how it went. Please complete our optional Host Data Reporting Form. This form allows us to track Screening Day’s reach, outcomes, and areas for improvement.
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month!
March 1, 2021 -- March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month!
The Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance is hosting the 8th Annual Gambling Disorder Screening Day on Tuesday March 9, 2021. Please visit the Division on Addiction's website for more information and to access the Gambling Disorder Screening Day Toolkit.
Additional resources for problem gamblers and those impacted can be found on the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health and National Council on Problem Gambling websites.
Webinar Offered by the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health
Rachel Volberg will be presenting at an upcoming webinar hosted by the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health to be held on December 1, 2020.
Register here.
Massachusetts’ three casinos are slowly reopening over the next week
July 07, 2020 -- Boston.com
Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville is set to be the first casino to reopen, with plans to open its doors Wednesday morning. In an announcement last week, Encore Boston Harbor in Everett said it plans to open up on Sunday, July 12. MGM Springfield will be the final Massachusetts casino to open — on Monday, July 13. Their release also came last week.
Read the Boston.com story here.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission Launches Online Gaming Research Hub and Data Sharing Platform
June 25, 2020 --
The Newly Created Massachusetts Open Data Exchange (MODE) Offers Researchers Enhanced Access to Casino-Impact Related DataSets
Today, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is excited to announce the launch of a robust online research library and data sharing portal, which will improve transparency and access to MGC’s extensive and growing collection of gaming-related datasets. The MGC’s burgeoning research agenda is recognized as the nation’s most comprehensive research program to study, assess, and prepare for the social and economic impacts of casino gambling. The new web-based information platform, located at MassGaming.com, offers a categorized and centralized repository of the research program’s wide-ranging studies and data. Please see here for more information.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission Approves Detailed Health and Safety Requirements for Casino Reopening
June 23, 2020 -- The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) voted unanimously 5-0 to approve detailed guidelines, outlining the minimum requirements for the reopening of the state’s two resort-casinos and single slots facility. During a remote public meeting, the five gaming commissioners adopted health and safety rules that Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino must meet in anticipation of the resumption of casino operations, scheduled for Phase 3 of the Commonwealth’s phased-in reopening plan. See the guidelines here.
