WHEREAS, The month of March 2025 is recognized as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month by the National Council on Problem Gambling, which was established in 1972, and its 35 state affiliates, including the California Council on Problem Gambling, established in 1986; and

WHEREAS, Gambling disorder is not only an addiction, but also a public health issue in which some problem gamblers experience both physical and mental health conditions. During the 2021–2022 fiscal year, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and elevated alcohol and tobacco use were the most common cooccurring physical health problems among clients served in the California state-funded gambling treatment program, while mental health disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety were the most commonly reported cooccurring mental health conditions; and

WHEREAS, Gambling disorder is a treatable disease, and treatment is effective in minimizing the harm to individuals, families, and communities. The Office of Problem Gambling (OPG) and the UCLA Gambling Studies Program currently operate the California Gambling Education and Treatment Services (CalGETS) program that, since 2009, has provided treatment services to almost 21,000 problem gamblers and others affected by a gambling disorder. CalGETS offers a diverse array of services for both the gambler and people who have been affected by their gambling, including the Problem Gambling Helpline, which is available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese, text and online chat support programs available in English and Spanish, group treatment, intensive outpatient and residential care, and self-help toolkits; and

WHEREAS, The OPG’s 2023–2027 Strategic Plan outlines four main goals: (1) providing problem gambling education, prevention, and treatment to California’s most impacted and high-risk communities, (2) gathering and maintaining accurate data on gambling disorder programs and prevalence to improve policy and ensure equitable resource distribution, (3) enhancing cultural inclusion and language services for diverse and underserved populations, and (4) increasing financial resources to adequately support priority goals and populations served by the OPG; and

WHEREAS, Gambling disorder is classified by the American Psychiatric Association as an addiction with similarities to the causes and consequences of alcohol and drug dependence, and is also recognized as the “concealed disease,” because problem gamblers do not exhibit visible signs of the addiction; and

WHEREAS, The OPG’s ongoing public awareness campaign promotes harm reduction and self-empowerment for individuals who are seeking treatment for a gambling disorder; and

WHEREAS, The Bureau of Gambling Control within the Department of Justice, the California Gambling Control Commission, the California State Lottery, California Friday Night Live Partnership, California Gaming Association, Sensis, the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, Pechanga Development Corporation, California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals, and the gambling disorder recovery community have joined with the OPG, within the State Department of Public Health, and the California Council on Problem Gambling to raise awareness and urge Californians to take the first step by seeking help for gambling-related problems; now, therefore, be it