Programs & Services

Cunning? Baffling? Powerful??

It is said that addiction is Cunning, Baffling and Powerful.

In problem gambling, one symptom that is consistently baffling is "chasing".

Chasing is betting money to get back the money you lost betting!

When a problem gambler is chasing, there is a compelling need to recover losses using the same type of gambling activity. If money is lost with slots, most slot players will try to recover by playing slots, often at the same machine or machines. So it goes for all types of gambling.

Maybe someone has previously had a loss limit. A loss limit is as it sounds – take $20.00 to the casino and when it’s gone, it’s gone. However, once the addiction kicks in full force, that loss limit is quickly abandoned. This now leads to greater betting which leads to greater losses, and the cycle continues. If some money is recovered, then hope is generated that all money can be recovered. If all of the lost money is recovered, the problem gambler now feels a sense of relief and feels that ìnow I am even, I can start fresh. So rather than walking out, as recreational gamblers do, problem gamblers will continue to gamble, many times until the last dollar is gone.

Now the problem gambler feels angry, frustrated and anxious and now may acquire additional funds from the ATM or other sources to continue to gamble in an attempt to get rid of those feelings.

So as you can see, this is not about money. Money is the agent of this addiction as drugs are the agent of drug addiction and alcohol of alcoholism. Emotions drive the chasing.

Cunning, baffling and powerful? It sure is.

If you need more information, call us 1-888-850-8888.

Funded by
The Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Delaware Health and Social Services

Training

24 hr. Helpline and Referral services - Call anytime, from anywhere. The call is toll free and absolutely confidential. One of our trained helpline personnel will assess your individual situation and make appropriate referrals. All members of our staff are trained in crisis intervention and stabilization.
Treatment - A limited number of outpatient treatment sessions are offered at no charge for eligible clients. All of our treatment providers are specially trained and qualified in assessment and treatment of problem gamblers and their families. In addition, the council provides closed ended, 12 weeks psychoeducational support groups. These groups, geared to different populations, are facilitated by our counselors and are run periodically throughout the State. See "events" for details.
Training - The council offers 25-30 full days of training every year for professional health care providers throughout the state. This training is provided in conjunction with the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH). CEUs are available in a variety of disciplines and the training is free. For the 2008 DSAMH training booklet see the link below
Prevention - The Delaware Council on Gambling Problems conducts a number of prevention activities. The goal of the prevention programs is to educate the youth and adult population within the State of Delaware about the nature of problem gambling. The council works closely with the Department of Education, University of Delaware, and other groups to develop prevention programs as well as disseminate research findings. DCGP staff gives presentations to diverse groups within the community about gambling addiction.

Register for training with DSAMH at: http://dtool.dhss.delaware.gov/If you have a problem with registration call theDSAMH training office at:
302-255-9480 or 302-255-4450 or 302-255-9483 or 302-255-2790

TRAINING

We are experiencing difficulty with our website. If you are interested in information on the DCGP training schedule, please send an email to eventregistration@dcgp.org. We will then send you a pdf copy of the schedule. Thanks for your understanding.

NOTE
Re:Training held in the CSB: DCGP can ONLY validate tickets of attendees
parking in the Community Services Building Garage.

DIRECTIONS TO CSB PARKING GARAGE

From the North
Take I-95 South to Wilmington. Exit at Delaware Avenue (Exit 7A). Go straight at the light to stay on 11th Street. At the light, stay straight to continue on 11th Street. Turn left onto Orange Street. Make an immediate left into the Community Services Parking Garage. When you exit the Parking Garage (corner of 11th and Orange Streets) walk South to 10th Street. The Community Services Building is on the corner of 10th and Orange Streets.

From the South
Take I-95 North to Wilmington. Exit at Delaware Avenue (Exit 7). Go straight at the light. At the 2nd light, turn right onto 11th Street. At the next light, stay straight to continue on 11th Street. Turn left onto Orange Street. Make an immediate left into the Community Services Parking Garage.
When you exit the Parking Garage (corner of 11th and Orange Streets) walk South to 10th Street. The Community Services Building is on the corner of 10th and Orange Streets.

For further information on National Gambling Certification, contact the National Council for Problem Gambling at 202-547- 9204 or visit their website at http://www.ncpgambling.org/. At that site, follow the link to Counselors and NCPG criteria. You will also find other sources of information on the National Council's website.