Maine Government News
Responsible Gaming Campaign Launched with Assistance of Many Partners
August 29, 2012
Human Services
AUGUSTA - While gambling and games of chance are enjoyed across the nation, there is a heightened awareness of the potential for gambling problems and their ability to negatively impact lives.
Recently, the Maine Office of Substance Abuse (OSA) and many partners developed SafeBet to provide Maine residents with information on how to gamble responsibly.
SafeBet encourages people to follow these three simple steps to help ensure that gambling remains fun without becoming a problem:
- Be Smart – Before You Start encourages planning for loss and not risking more than one can safely afford
- Know Your Limit – Stay Within It advises people to set limits on the number of games played, the amount gambled and the time spent gambling or gaming
- Have Fun – Stop When You’re Done reinforces the need to stop when time and budget limits have been reached.
The gambling work group members who have partnered with OSA include Maine’s Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations, Maine Gambling Control Board, Office of Adult Mental Health, SeniorsPlus - representing Maine’s Area Agencies on Aging, Bangor and Oxford’s Healthy Maine Partnerships, 2-1-1 Maine, the Maine Youth Action Network, the Maine Alliance for Addiction Recovery and Hollywood Casino.
"We've been encouraged by the collaborative process as we’ve worked on SafeBet and other projects that encourage responsible gambling and gaming," said Guy Cousins, Director of Maine's OSA. "With all the right people in the room, we were able to craft a program that helps educate and provides the right tips, tools, and when necessary, appropriate treatment options."
The SafeBet campaign was launched earlier this month. Elements of the campaign include a poster, rack cards and internet advertising.
The effort is designed to share preventive strategies and to educate adults to "Make it a Safe Bet" when they are preparing to gamble. The materials direct people to dial 211 or visit 211maine.org if they need help with a gambling problem.
