2023-2024 Activities

OAPGG’s work included service and partnerships with allied organizations, speaking engagements, training, interviews, meetings with state and tribal government, the annual problem gambling conference, statewide self-exclusion program, and social media awareness program. Each of these categories is outlined below.

Service and Partnerships

Midwest Conference on Problem Gambling

OAPGG staff attended the annual MCPGSA conference in Kansas City (June 18–21, 2024).

OAPGG also works with MCPGSA to provide free problem gambling basic training to counselors in the MCPGSA region, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.

National Council on Problem Gambling

OAPGG is the state affiliate of (NCPG), and Dr. Harwell is currently serving on the board of directors. In the past year, Dr. Harwell has attended:

Monthly meeting of board of directors (2 hrs each)
Monthly meeting of affiliates committee (1 hr each)
Board meeting in San Diego (Dec 6 and 7)
NCPG annual conference in Washington, DC, July 26–28, 2023 (3 days)

Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association

OAPGG hosted sponsored a vendor booth at the annual OIGA conference (June 15-16), and Dr. Harwell spoke on problem gambling.

OAPGG works collaboratively with OIGA to host Tribal Voices, a grassroots effort for the enhancement of responsible gambling programs throughout the state of Oklahoma.

Tribal Voices

OAPGG met with Tribal Voices partners (Apr 26) to plan the fifth edition of an employee training video on problem gambling. The training videos feature different scenarios that casino employees and security personnel encounter when customers are experiencing gambling problems and teach a 3-step intervention aspect approach: recognition, connection, and call to action.

Speaking Engagements and Training

Over the past year, Dr. Harwell has spoken and provided training and numerous events around the country, including:

Washington Spokane (July 10–11); 2 presentations (January 31); 24 hr Basic Training and groups for GD (June 25–27)
Massachusetts Game Sense
Illinois Basic Training (Oct 6, 13, 20, 27)
Iowa 1.5 hr presentations (April 11, 16, 18)
Oregon Portland, 6 hr presentation (April 30)

Within the state of Oklahoma, trainings included:

Helpline staff training (Sept 20 and 21)
Prevalence study results at the Oklahoma Tribal Gaming Regulators Association (OTGRA) (Oct 19)
Veterans Hospital in OKC (2 hrs) (Nov 2)
Sports betting white paper mailed to legislators (Feb 1)
Mindfulness training at A Chance to Change (Feb 9)
3 hrs of ethics and 3 hrs of supervision at First Americans Museum (Mar 6)
Mindfulness Training at CREOKS (6 hrs, 134 participants) (Mar 22)
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) presentation (Mar 26)
OTGRA presentation at Downstream Casino (Apr 17)
Remington Park site visit for RG and Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission (OHRC) (May 29)
National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) presentation in Tulsa

Dr. Harwell gave interviews to news media, including:

Meetings with State, Local, and Tribal Government

OAPGG meets with law makers and shares white papers to increase awareness and the development of policies for the treatment and prevention of problem gambling.

Sports betting white paper mailed to legislators (Feb 1)
Speaker McCall (July 31)
LeeAnn Paczkowski at the Att. Gen. office
Carolyn Thompson at the Att. Gen. office
OHRC annual report for RG to the commissioners
ODMHSAS dept. heads zoom meeting (Aug 24)
Seminole Gaming Commission (Aug 3)
Kim Pearson with Osage Nation Gaming Operations (Sept 6)

17th Annual Statewide Conference on Problem Gambling

OAPGG’s 17th Annual Statewide Conference took place on Friday, March 1, at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center in Shawnee and featured nationally recognized speakers Marc Potenza (Steven M. Southwick Professor of Psychiatry and Professor in the Child Study Center and of Neuroscience at Yale University Medical School and Director of the Center of Excellence in Gambling Research) and Heather Chapman (Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University and Deputy Director of the Veterans Addiction Recovery Center and the Director of the Gambling Treatment Program at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center). Over 50 counselors, peer support specialists, policy makers, and other stakeholders attended the event.

Statewide Self-Exclusion Program

OAPGG oversees the statewide self-exclusion program for participating tribes. Individuals who would like to ban themselves complete a notarized application and select a time period of 1, 3, 5, or 10 years. All participating tribes are able to access the database of self-exclusions.

The number of new self-exclusions continues to grow on an annual basis.

Social Media Awareness Program

In order to increase public awareness for problem gambling, OAPGG shares paid content on Meta (Facebook and Instagram). (There was no paid campaign in July through September of 2023). Individuals have the option to request help via an Instant Form, and OAPGG responds either by text, phone call, or email.