For information on our 2024 efforts in education, prevention, and treatment for compulsive gamblers and their families, our annual report offers a review of the outreach provided. The Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico is a voluntary collaboration of Native-owned casino properties. By pooling our funds for outreach about problem gambling, we are able to offer a cohesive program to educate New Mexicans, advocating responsible gaming and offering support and treatment for those who begin to gamble too much, as well as to their families. For information about our efforts, please email president@rganm.org. In 2024, an increase in available funds allowed more outreach, leading to increases in website visits, calls to the helpline, and intakes for treatment. Click the pdf below to access the 2024 report.
As Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM) kicks off this September, New Mexico is poised to play a pivotal role in promoting safe and informed gambling practices. The Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico (RGANM) is at the forefront of these efforts, ensuring that players across the state are equipped with the knowledge and tools to gamble responsibly.
RGEM, an initiative led by the American Gaming Association (AGA), emphasizes the importance of educating both consumers and industry professionals about responsible gambling. This year, the focus is on raising awareness about the risks and rewards associated with gambling, enhancing gaming literacy, and fostering a more responsible gaming community.
RGANM’s Initiatives in New Mexico
In New Mexico, RGANM is leveraging RGEM to amplify its ongoing efforts to promote responsible gaming. The association is dedicated to providing resources and support to those who may be at risk of problem gambling. Through partnerships with local casinos, community organizations, and healthcare providers, RGANM is working to create a safer gaming environment for all New Mexicans.
In September, RGANM is appearing on 3 radio programs to give educational information aimed at both gamblers and their families. These radio interviews are designed to increase awareness about the signs of problem gambling and to provide strategies for responsible gaming.
Spokespersons for RGANM are also appearing several times on the New Mexico Living television program which airs on KRQE, NRQE, and KWBQ. You can watch the interview segment here.
By offering these interviews as well as the resources on the website, RGANM hopes to reduce the incidence of gambling-related harm in the state.
RGANM also distributed educational materials throughout New Mexico’s gaming establishments. These materials provide valuable information on setting limits, understanding the odds, and recognizing when gambling may be becoming a problem. By making these resources readily available, RGANM is empowering players to make informed decisions and engage in gambling in a safe and responsible manner.
Collaborative Efforts for a Safer Gaming Environment
Collaboration is a cornerstone of RGANM’s approach to promoting responsible gaming. Throughout RGEM, RGANM is working closely with New Mexico’s gaming industry to implement best practices in responsible gambling. This includes training employees to identify and assist individuals who may be struggling with gambling addiction. By fostering a collaborative environment, RGANM is helping to ensure that New Mexico’s gaming industry remains a safe and enjoyable place for everyone.
RGANM’s efforts during RGEM (and every month) also extend to public awareness campaigns. These campaigns, which are being rolled out across various media platforms, aim to reach a broad audience with messages about the importance of responsible gambling. By raising awareness and encouraging open conversations about gambling habits, RGANM is helping to destigmatize the issue and promote healthier behaviors.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Responsible Gaming in New Mexico
As RGEM progresses, RGANM remains committed to its mission of promoting responsible gaming in New Mexico. The association’s efforts are not limited to the month of September but continue throughout the year. By maintaining a focus on education, collaboration, and support, RGANM is playing a crucial role in fostering a culture of responsible gambling in New Mexico.
As part of the organization’s effort to educate youth on the risks of gambling, the Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico has produced 2024-2025 student planners. These planners cover the current school year with pages to note assignments, important dates, and notes.
The planners also include information on the risks of gambling. Studies have shown that people who start to gamble earlier in life are at a greater risk of developing a gambling compulsion.
Legal consequences in New Mexico for underage gambling can include misdemeanor charges and fines. Other consequences aren’t as tangible, but may include declining academic success, lack of interest in social and extracurricular activities, anxiety and depression, and mounting debt. Gambling activity can also be associated with other high-risk activities among youth, like drug and alcohol use.
“We want our state’s teens to focus on education and part of that is understanding that gambling is a form of entertainment for adults and only when when it does not interfere with daily life or the ability to pay bills and provide for your family,” said Shannon Dictson, president of the Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico. She is also the responsible gaming coordinator for the Mescalero Responsible Gaming Program and began the student planner project several years ago, focused on the Mescalero area.
In 2024, the planners became a statewide effort, she says. “We would love to share these with any students who are in middle or high school. If you’d like to receive a copy, contact me and we will get it to you.”
To receive a student planner, use the RGANM.com contact form, directing the email to the President. In the Comments, include your name and mailing address as well as how many teens are in the home.
Art Contest Announced for Middle and High School Students
An art contest is underway for New Mexico students in grades 6 through 12 to help educate their peers about the risks of underage gambling and the potential for harm. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, between 60 to 80 percent of high school students report having gambled for money in the past year and 4-6% meet the criteria of a problem gambler.
The contest is sponsored by the Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico (RGANM), a collaboration of the state’s Native American-owned tribal casinos. Submitted artwork will be evaluated for use in a student planner booklet that RGANM will print and distribute for the 2024-2025 school year. Thirteen submissions will be chosen for the planner’s cover and 12 months; the winning cover design will receive a $100 gift card and each winner for a monthly page will receive a $50 gift card.
“The student planner includes broader information in addition to advocating against underage gambling,” said Shannon Dictson, president of RGANM and coordinator of the Mescalero Responsible Gaming Program. “Information is also included about suicide prevention, obesity, vaping, underage drinking, and issues relevant to teens and young adults.”
She says the planner is a way to help spread the message that gambling is a form of entertainment to be enjoyed in moderation by adults and should only use disposable income. “This is a way to share information to help students and encourage them to not participate in addictive or potentially harmful activities,” she said.
Artwork should be on 8.5×11 white paper, either horizontal or vertical. It should illustrate a message such as:
Set a dollar limit and stick with it
There are times when people should not gamble
Free counseling is available for anyone with a gambling problem
Gambling is not essential for having fun
Don’t let gambling interfere with family, friends or work.
Kids are 2-3 times the risk of adults for developing a gambling problem
The Problem Gambling Helpline in New Mexico is 1-888-696-2440
The student’s name, grade level and school should be included in the artwork itself, as well as a valid phone number and email. Submissions can be made to smdictson@matgc.org. For more information, call 575- 464-7106. The deadline for submissions is April 15, 2024.
Each year in the United States, March is observed as Problem Gambling Awareness Month. In New Mexico, the Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico (RGANM) offers year-round outreach, prevention, and treatment for those affected by problem gambling.
“Gambling, whether it’s at a casino or even online games, can become a compulsive behavior for some, particularly online gaming sites which can be very addictive since the cell phone is always within reach,” said Shannon Dictson, the association’s president and the coordinator of the Mescalero Responsible Gaming Program in Mescalero, New Mexico. “Our goal in Problem Gambling Awareness Month, as well as every other month, is to make sure people have the information about how to play responsibly and how to access the resources and treatment that are available, if they need help. Our website and 24/7 helpline, staffed by counselors trained in problem gambling treatment, offer lots of information as well as access to free treatment.”
March is not only Problem Gambling Awareness Month, it is also a time when the annual basketball tournament is held. Research conducted by American Gaming Association says that 47 million Americans expect to wager on the March Madness tournament. One analyst on BoydsBets.com estimates that nearly half a billion dollars will be wagered during the tournament, with players making bets in Las Vegas, online gaming, sportsbooks, and office pools.
“Gambling has become pervasive across the United States,” said Dictson, “We even have online sports bet companies advertising on TV in professional sports. With so much promotion of gambling, we want to make sure people have information.”
In New Mexico, before the first Native casino opened in 1995, a collaboration of tribes formed the Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico, knowing that resources would be needed. During March, and across the entire year, the Association and the treatment providers that work with them offer many resources, including free treatment, are available for the gambler and their family. The Association has also announced that registration is open for their annual conference for treatment providers, which helps educate them on the latest research and options to help problem gamblers. If you need to be invoiced for your registrations, reach out to Kalika Valerio at kalika@theevolutiongroup.com.
More information about those resources can be found at RGANM.org or by calling the RGANM Helpline at 888-696-2440. Nationwide statistics and resources including screening tools can be found on the National Council for Problem Gambling website at ncpgambling.org.
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