New Jersey Starts Year-Long Gambling Help Campaign 5t4k2n

New Jersey is stepping up to tackle the issue of problem gambling with a new campaign that’s going to last a whole year. The man in charge, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, shared this news during March, which is also known as Problem Gambling Awareness Month. This campaign is all about helping people understand the risks of gambling too much and showing them where they can get help if they need it.

The reason behind this big move? Well, gambling, especially sports betting, has become a lot more common, and with that, some people are finding themselves in trouble because of it. The state wants to make sure everyone knows how to keep their gambling fun and safe, and if someone starts to struggle, they should know there’s help out there.

They’re going to spread the word through online ads, focusing on times when lots of people might be gambling, like during the NCAA Basketball March Madness or the Super Bowl. These ads will remind folks to think twice before placing a bet, especially if they’re not in the best state of mind, like if they’ve had a bit to drink or are feeling really emotional about the game.

New Jersey’s also putting some rules in place for online gambling sites to help keep an eye on people who might be gambling too much and to offer ways to take a break or set limits on how much they can bet.

A company named Marketsmith is running the campaign, which costs $300,000, with advice from both the state’s gambling authorities and the Attorney General’s office. They’re not just throwing ads out there; they want people to actually use the tools and resources available to manage their gambling habits better.

This effort is partly in response to a study from Rutgers University, which found that almost 6% of people in New Jersey might have a gambling problem, which is a lot higher than the national average. They also noticed more people are gambling both online and in person, which could be part of the problem.

So, if someone’s finding it hard to keep their gambling under control, New Jersey’s saying, “We’ve got your back.” There’s a free helpline (1-800-GAMBLER) run by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, ready to help anyone who needs it​