Fish & Chips: Comprehensive Collegiate Problem Gambling Programming

Presenter:
Michael A. Buzzelli, MA, MPH, OCPS

In developing a problem gambling program with colleges and universities; where do you start? Who do you work with? While professionals in the problem gambling field have known for years that college and university students are at an increased risk for developing problem gambling behaviors, few have been able to get effective and sustainable programs off the ground. These professionals typically receive the same responses of “our students don’t gamble” or more often “we have bigger fish to fry.” When developing a problem gambling program with colleges and universities we can’t just focus on the sports brackets, fantasy leagues and poker Chips, we must also address the Fish. This session will discuss the necessity of integrating problem gambling programming into campus life issues including substance use, mental health, finances, peer support and wellness and highlight key student populations to collaborate with when developing these programs.

Learning Objectives:

1. Upon completion of the workshop, participants will have discussed the current landscape of gambling in Ohio, what has been done in the collegiate atmosphere, and what needs must still be addressed.
2. Upon completion of the workshop, participants will be able to explain strategies in creating college and university buy-in around impactful and sustainable problem gambling programming.
3. Upon completion of the workshop, participants will have developed a stronger sense of responsibility to integrate problem gambling into new or existing programming.