Virginia Council on Problem Gambling - VCPG

02/23/2026

Our work in action!

Last week, together with the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, VCPG Executive Director Willard Robertson participated in a panel discussion on problem gambling in Virginia, featuring keynote speaker Dan Trolaro, at James Madison University!

𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 & 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 welcomed 65 JMU students and community members for an important conversation on awareness, education and support.

👏 Thank you to everyone who joined us to learn more about the gaming and gambling risks and behaviors, as well as help to strengthen our prevention efforts in Virginia!

𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 (l𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘰 r𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵): 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘵 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘝𝘗𝘎𝘏, 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘝𝘊𝘗𝘎, 𝘑𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘨 𝘙𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘮 𝘊𝘚𝘉, 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘝𝘋𝘉𝘏𝘋𝘚, 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘰 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘐𝘊 360, 𝘈𝘻𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘝𝘗𝘎𝘏 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘢 𝘒𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘔𝘜 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳.

02/20/2026

Don't miss this important conversation on Gambling & Technology: Innovation, Risk, & Responsibility next month during Problem Gambling Awareness Month!

Join Keith Whyte, VCPG Board Member and 30-year veteran in responsible gambling, for an interactive discussion on how technology, from AI to prediction markets, is shaping gambling, risk and policy. Discover ways to balance innovation with responsibility to protect public health.

📅 March 4, 2026
⏰: 10am-12pm
🖥️ Virtual on Teams

🔗 Register today: http://tinyurl.com/PGAM2026

02/16/2026

Help is available!

Join Stronger Together: Support for Loved Ones and Affected Others this Wednesday evening for a virtual session designed to support those impacted by problem gambling.

🕡 6:30-7:30 PM
📍 Zoom (Open to Virginia residents)
🔗 Register today: https://form.jotform.com/250916051419151

We would love to invite you to join us at Stronger Together: Support for Loved Ones and Affected Others. This group is hosted by VPGH Network Clinician, Tammy Muir and VPGH Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Lisa Cochran. This group will provide support for loved ones of individuals experiencing gambling related harm.

🗓️ When: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month
🕡 Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
📍 Where: Via Zoom

This group is open to Virginia residents. Click the link below to register and join us:
🔗 https://form.jotform.com/250916051419151

02/12/2026

Struggling with problem gambling? Take the first steps to recovery!

RecoverMe empowers individuals affected by gambling-related harm through practical, evidence-based support. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques and mindfulness sessions, the app helps users build awareness and regain control.

🔗 Learn more and download it today: www.recovermeapp.co.uk

02/05/2026

Big 🏈 weekend ahead! Make sure your game plan includes knowing the risks of gambling and setting clear limits.

Virginians, here are a few reminders to keep in mind before kickoff.

🔗 Looking for more tips and information? Check out this ABC 8News - WRIC article: https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/gambling-risks-super-bowl-sunday-vcpg/

📲 If you or someone you know needs support for a gambling problem, help is available. Call or text our confidential, toll-free 24/7 helpline at 1-888-532-3500. We’re here to help!

02/04/2026

Join us at the 3rd Annual Problem Gambling & Gaming Prevention Conference—a full day dedicated to awareness, prevention and meaningful action!

🗓 March 25, 2026
⏰ 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
📍 Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, VA

Hear from expert speakers, participate in interactive workshops and engage in discussions focused on preventing problem gambling and gaming while promoting healthier communities.

🎟 Tickets: $30
🔗 Learn more and register: www.eventbrite.com/e/3rd-annual-problem-gambling-gaming-prevention-conference-tickets-1969792757162?aff=oddtdtcreator

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect and make a difference!

02/02/2026

$1.76 billion.

That’s how much is expected to be bet on the Big Game across U.S. sportsbooks, according to the American Gaming Association. 🏈 A nearly 27% increase from last year!

Stay tuned as we share tips to help keep gambling fun and safe for Virginians!

🔗 For more helpful resources, visit: www.vcpg.net

01/30/2026

Join the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling - VCPG, Virginia Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), and VPGH for a free webinar and important conversation with Matthew Britt, Thomas Dozier, and Pamela Spurgeon to hear their valuable insights on how the team collaborates to best help those seeking support for problem gambling.

📅 Friday, February 27th
⏰ 12-1 PM
📍 Online
🔗 Registration link: https://vpgh.jotform.com/260215463485962

01/28/2026

The 2025 Helpline Data is here! 📊

Problem gambling is rising across Virginia. In 2025, both helpline calls and intakes increased compared to 2024:

• Helpline calls: Up 39%, totaling 21,983 calls
• Intakes: Up 50%, with 1,508 individuals directly asking for help with problem gambling

📞 If you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, help is available 24/7. Our free and confidential helpline is here to provide support: Call or text 1.888.532.3500.

www.vcpg.net

01/26/2026

Mark your calendars for an important conversation next month!

📣 Building Positive Connections: Caring Conversations Around Problem Gaming & Gambling
📅 February 19, 2026
⏰ 10:30 AM
📍 James Madison University

In partnership with JMU, Virginia Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health and Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board, this free event is focused on raising awareness, providing education and building understanding around gaming and gambling risks and behaviors, particularly among young adults.

The program will feature a keynote by Daniel Trolaro, MS, followed by a panel discussion with VCPG Executive Director Willard Robertson and other experts in gaming and gambling prevention, education, treatment and recovery.

🔗 Learn more: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=LBL7PuEh0keuZ8a89t83mIGzLb5F2aVNgSp9-aQ_tTtUQ0FHREhSRDBZWjY0WFZWT0UxN09OSElHSi4u

01/22/2026

We’re excited to announce Willard Robertson as VCPG’s new Executive Director!

Willard is a seasoned nonprofit leader with more than 30 years of experience in mental health, education and gambling harm prevention.

𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥, “𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳, 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘈𝘴 𝘌𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘝𝘊𝘗𝘎’𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘝𝘪𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘢’𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘝𝘪𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦.”

Before stepping into this role, he served three years on the VCPG Board of Directors. His previous work includes serving as the Problem Gambling Prevention Specialist for Highlands Community Services, where he developed local, regional, and statewide prevention strategies and delivered evidence‑based training on addiction, brain development, and su***de awareness.

Willard also coordinates the Washington County Prevention Coalition, leading collaborative efforts in su***de prevention, substance use education, and gambling harm awareness.

Throughout his career, Willard has built coalitions, expanded stakeholder engagement and represented Virginia at national conferences focused on gambling harm. We can’t wait to see the impact he will make across the Commonwealth and beyond.

👏 Please join us in welcoming Willard to this new role!

01/16/2026

As we continue the Elevating Our Stories series, this week, Kevin Roberts shares his powerful story.

A Peer Recovery Specialist intern with the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, he opens up about his recovery journey and the intersection of gambling disorder and ADHD. He also speaks to the importance of self-care and self-compassion, asking for help and practicing gratitude as part of recovery.

If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, support is available. 📱 Please call or text our confidential, toll-free, 24/7 helpline at 1.888.532.3500.