FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     February 1, 2006

CONTACT:
Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc.
3635 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 7
Hamilton, NJ 08619 
Phone: 609-588-5515
http://www.800gambler.org
ccgnj@800gambler.org
 

JIM W. WON’T BE BETTING ON THE SUPER BOWL
HE CALLED THE 800-GAMBLER HELPLINE FOR HELP!  

Jim, a father of three sons lost the biggest bet of this year on Denver last week.  He owes $47,000 on credit cards and another $11,000 to his friends.

Several calls like Jim’s will be answered by Helplines all across America during the next 4 weeks.
 
Experts predict 4 Billion Dollars will be bet illegally on the Internet, with bookies and in office pools across America on the 40th Super Bowl.

Internet gambling and sports betting is on the rise in High Schools and on College campuses.  More than 32% of college age students gamble on sports and internet - according to The Council’s www.800gambler.org website survey – states Ed Looney, Executive Director of the Council. 

Internet gambling which is illegal in the United States continues to compete with traditional bookies on college campuses.  It’s a 12 Billion Dollar business and growing - states Looney. 

In Las Vegas where sports gambling is legal, more than 150 sports books located in casinos will take an estimated 80 million in bets on this one game.

Looney states eighty percent of the people who gamble are social gamblers, fifteen percent have some significant problem with their gambling and five percent are addicted and without treatment their lives and the lives of their loved ones will get progressively worse.

If gambling is causing a problem for you – log onto our website www.800gambler.org and take the 20 question quiz and check out the referrals for treatment.
 
Compulsive gambling counselors from the nine Treatment Programs in New Jersey will be ready to receive referrals from the 1-800-GAMBLER© Helpline.

Most problem gamblers affect 6 to 8 people in a significant way and those who lose will cause emotional and sometimes physical abuse to their families.   Help for family members and friends is also available by calling 1-800-GAMBLER©.

About CCGNJ, Inc.

The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc. is a private non-profit organization that provides information, education and referral services for people affected by compulsive gambling.  The Council’s mission is to educate the public to the fact that compulsive gambling is a treatable illness. The Council’s 1-800-GAMBLER© Helpline and website, www.800gambler.org, have been resources for thousands of people who are compulsive gamblers, who are recovering from compulsive gambling and family members affected by this addiction.