Harry Levant

Addressing gambling-related harm begins with education and prevention.

I look forward to joining Millersville University’s Summer Institute, Sports Betting and Problem Gambling: Strategies for Prevention & Treatment, as the keynote speaker.

The way people gamble is continuing to change. Educators, clinicians, and community leaders must understand the risks and have the tools needed to recognize and respond to gambling addiction.

Building a comprehensive public health response starts with preparing those on the front lines.

Addressing gambling addiction requires a comprehensive public health response focused on prevention.

For too long, the conversation has centered on helping people after devastating harm has already occurred. Treatment is critical, but prevention must also be part of the solution.

As gambling products continue to evolve, safeguards must address today’s dangerous online gambling environment.

Comprehensive reform is necessary to change the trajectory of this crisis.

A 9,000% increase is a warning sign that demands attention.

Since the introduction of online gambling in Pennsylvania, thousands of young adults have taken the step to voluntarily ban themselves from gambling platforms because they recognize the harm it is causing in their lives.

For too long, the onus has been placed on individuals to recognize and control their gambling, while the products and systems driving gambling-related harm remain largely unchecked.

A true public health response must focus on preventing gambling-related harm before individuals and families reach a crisis point.

Source: PennLive

When I entered recovery from gambling addiction, I made a vow: if I could get well, I would dedicate my future to helping prevent others from suffering a similar fate.

After years of treating individuals struggling with gambling addiction as a clinician, I realized something important: treatment alone is not enough.

We must also address prevention.

That realization led me to public policy and the work I do today: advocating for comprehensive public health regulation that addresses gambling-related harm before more individuals and families reach a point of crisis.

Prevention must be at the center of the conversation.

This Sunday, I will be joining Sunday Agenda on Newsmax live in studio to continue the conversation around gambling addiction and the public health impact of today’s online gambling environment.

Tune in Sunday at 1:40 PM EDT.

For billions of people, the World Cup represents competition, connection, and the love of sports.

Today, that same experience is surrounded by a gambling ecosystem where every match, moment, and outcome can become an opportunity to bet.

With live betting, prediction markets, and increasingly immersive gambling products reaching audiences on a global scale, the need for comprehensive public health safeguards has never been more urgent.

Protecting the future of sports requires addressing the dangerous gambling environment that now exists around them.

Source: CNBC

I am honored to serve as the keynote speaker at the 13th Annual Joanna Franklin Conference on Problem Gambling, hosted by the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling.

My keynote, Online Gambling: A Public Health Crisis, will focus on the urgent need to address the rapid expansion of online gambling through prevention, education, and meaningful public health action.

Bringing together researchers, clinicians, advocates, and community leaders is an important step toward changing the way we understand and respond to gambling-related harm.

I look forward to being part of this important conversation.

Young people are being exposed to gambling content long before they fully understand risk, consequences, or the addictive nature of these products.

Nearly 60% reported seeing gambling-related content online without ever searching for it.

Protecting children from gambling-related harm requires meaningful safeguards, stronger oversight, and a public health approach.

Source: Common Sense Media via The Philadelphia Inquirer

Connecticut has taken an important step toward addressing the risks associated with the rapid expansion of sports betting.

New legislation signed into law addresses sports integrity, consumer protection, and gambling-related harm, recognizing the need for stronger safeguards in today’s gambling environment.

There is still more work to do, but effective public health regulation starts with recognizing the need for change.

Gambling addiction often exists in silence long before it becomes visible.

When 40% of gamblers report hiding their gambling from loved ones, it reveals the devastating reality too many families experience: the harm often extends far beyond the person placing the bet.

Behind the secrecy are spouses, parents, children, friends, and loved ones trying to understand what is happening and searching for answers.

The impacted others deserve a place to be heard, supported, and represented.

Join Families and Friends of Gamblers (FFOG) and become part of a growing community working to bring awareness, accountability, and change.