Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling

03/16/2026

How does the developing brain influence decision-making around risk and reward?

During Brain Awareness Week, we’re highlighting what neuroscience tells us about gambling and youth development. Research shows that adolescents experience heightened reward sensitivity while the areas responsible for impulse control and long-term planning are still maturing.

Understanding how the brain responds to uncertainty and reinforcement helps shift the conversation from willpower to awareness.

Early awareness supports prevention. And prevention supports healthier outcomes.

Read our latest blog to learn more:
https://www.evergreencpg.org/news/understanding-the-brain-why-early-awareness-matters-for-youth-and-gambling/

If you have questions about gambling behaviors for yourself or someone you care about, call, text, or chat with our free and confidential 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-547-6133, or visit evergreencpg.org.

03/13/2026

New Connections podcast episode: Searching for Belonging: Creating a Culture of Community in Boston’s Chinatown– S7E2

Join guests Ben Hires, CEO of the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC), and Kevin Lin, Family Connector and Mental Health Clinician at BCNC, with host Tana Russell and co-host Paulina Zyskowski as they explore how isolation, immigration, and targeted casino marketing intersect in Boston’s Asian community. The conversation examines how cultural loss, language barriers, economic pressure, and loneliness can increase vulnerability to gambling harm, and how casinos position themselves as spaces of belonging. Together, they discuss the impact of targeted marketing, the role of stigma in help-seeking, and the power of community-based prevention efforts that create healthier spaces for connection beyond the casino.

Stream podcast episode here: https://www.evergreencpg.org/podcast/searching-for-belonging-season-7-episode-2/

03/13/2026

Staying informed helps you stay in control. Know the signs.

Gambling can be entertainment. But when it begins to affect your time, your finances, or your focus, it’s worth paying attention.

Early signs may include:
• Spending more time or money than planned
• Gambling to cope with stress
• Chasing losses
• Financial strain
• Changes in mood or behavior

Recognizing the signs early helps you stay in control.

Free and confidential support is available 24/7.

Call, text, or chat 1-800-547-6133

Visit https://www.evergreencpg.org/pgam-2026/

03/11/2026

This Problem Gambling Awareness Month, Prevention starts with us.

Youth are routinely warned about the risks of drugs and alcohol; while gambling and excessive gaming receive far less attention.

Early exposure to gambling-like influences can shape how young people think about risk, money, and reward before they fully understand the consequences.

As a parent, educator, or coach, you do not need to be an expert. What matters most is being a safe, credible presence.

You can:
• Start open conversations about gaming and betting
• Normalize discussions about risk without judgment
• Frame awareness as protecting goals and opportunities
• Share resources before problems escalate

Early, supportive conversations are one of the strongest protective factors we have.

Prevention begins with awareness.
Support is available 24/7 at 1-800-547-6133.

Check out more tools, tips, and resources here:
https://www.evergreencpg.org/pgam-2026-landing-page/

03/11/2026

Great resource from the Washington State Health Care Authority. The Don’t Get Played campaign helps raise awareness about how gambling works and how young people can better understand risk and reward.

Education and early awareness are key parts of prevention.

Parents, gambling doesn't always look like a casino. For today's kids, it can look like:
🎮 Video games with chance-based rewards
📱 Apps that normalize wagering
📺 Sports betting ads during the game
🏠 Gambling behavior they see at home
Early exposure matters. Visit our new website https://loom.ly/Ih0oNWs to learn more

03/10/2026

Today, March 10 marks the Thirteenth Annual Gambling Disorder Screening Day.

Gambling Disorder Screening Day is an international initiative designed to encourage early identification of gambling-related harms.

Gambling-related problems are often undetected and untreated, even though effective treatments are available.

Screening Day supports providers, organizations, and communities in recognizing gambling-related risk sooner and connecting individuals to further assessment and care.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GDSD:
https://www.evergreencpg.org/news/gambling-disorder-screening-day-early-detection/

March 10 marks the Thirteenth Annual Gambling Disorder Screening Day Held each year on the second Tuesday of March, Gambling Disorder Screening Day is an international initiative designed to encourage early identification of gambling-related harms. Gambling-related problems are often undetected and....

03/10/2026

Today is Gambling Disorder Screening Day, an annual event to help identify individuals who might have Gambling Disorder and should seek further assessment.

Gambling Disorder can lead to financial, emotional, social, occupational, and physical harms, yet many cases go undetected. Screening in healthcare settings can help identify risks, reduce harm, and connect people to support and recovery.

Take a screener today: www.divisiononaddiction.org/outreach-resources/bbgs-e-screener/

03/09/2026

Paulina Zyskowski from the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling will be presenting “Press Pause: Digital Wellness and How to Regain Control” at the Southeastern Regional Youth Summit in Pasco on March 20.

If you’re attending the summit, come to the session and say hello!
This free event is designed to empower young people through dynamic speakers, interactive activities, and meaningful conversations.

Who should attend
• Youth ages 11–18
• Students must attend with a school chaperone
• Youth and adult chaperones attend free

Join us for a powerful day of inspiration, learning, and connection with youth from across the region.

Learn more and register:
https://yarp.kidsmentalhealthwa.org/event/southeastern-regional-youth-summit/

03/07/2026

March 10 is Gambling Disorder Screening Day.

Early screening helps identify gambling-related risk before harm escalates. Many cases of Gambling Disorder go undetected because screening is not routinely included in health and behavioral health settings.

Learn more about Gambling Disorder Screening Day, available resources, and how to participate:
https://www.evergreencpg.org/awareness/pg-awareness-month/screening-day/

If you or someone you know needs support, call, text, or chat 24/7 at 1-800-547-6133.

03/05/2026

It’s Your Life, It’s Your Tomorrow.

Gambling should never stand in the way of either.

During National Problem Gambling Awareness Month, the Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling reminds Washington residents that support, prevention, and recovery resources are available statewide.

If gambling is affecting your finances, relationships, work, or peace of mind, you are not alone.

Free and confidential support is available 24/7.

Call, text, or chat 1-800-547-6133

To learn more, visit: https://www.evergreencpg.org/pgam-2026/

03/04/2026

This is why early awareness is so important!

A national survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) finds that 65% of adults aged 21+ report participating in at least one form of gambling before age 21.

🔗Read the full press release: NCPGambling.org/news/survey-finds-widespread-gambling-participation-before-age-21/

03/02/2026