Take ACTION

• Utilize your organizations’ social media and post messages regularly during March.
• Promote and utilize screening tools on Problem Gambling Screening Day, March 12, 2024.
• Organize or participate in community events to promote screening and awareness of problem gambling.
• Invite the Center’s Peer Recovery Support Specialists to share their lived experience at your recovery groups.
• Add the Maryland Helpline 1-800-GAMBLER number and help seeker website (helpmygamblingproblem.org) to all your messaging.
• Visit the Center’s Resources page for additional organizations to collaborate with on PAGAM activities.
• Order a variety of professionally printed outreach media and awareness materials at no cost from the Center by filling out and emailing

For more information on the Center’s March 2024 PGAM activities and resources available to you, please contact us at 667-214-2120 or email:

• Heather Eshleman, Prevention Manager (eshleman@som.umaryland.edu)
• Mike Kafes, Communications Manager (mkafes@som.umaryland.edu).

Be AWARE of the risks of gambling.

For most, gambling can be fun. But for some, gambling can get out of control.  Signs of a gambling problem:

• Preoccupied with gambling (i.e., reliving past gambling experiences, planning the next venture, or thinking of ways to get money with which to gamble)
• Secretive about his/her gambling habits, and defensive when confronted
• Increasing bet amounts when gambling in order to achieve the desired excitement
• Trying unsuccessfully to control, cut back, or stop gambling
• Restless or irritable when not gambling
• Gambling to escape problems
• Trying to win back losses by more gambling
• Lying to family and others about the extent of gambling
• Jeopardizing or losing relationships, jobs, education or career opportunities because of gambling
• Relying on others to bail him or her out to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling