Arizona Department of Gaming to launch peer support programme
The Division of Problem Gambling has awarded the contract for the new service to Dezerve Counseling.
The Arizona Department of Gaming’s (ADG) Division of Problem Gambling has announced it will launch its first peer support and recovery services programme. The agency has awarded the contract to Dezerve Counseling, with the initiative expected to launch in mid-2026.
The service will be provided free of charge and confidentially. According to the ADG, participants will be paired with peer support and recovery specialists who have lived experience with problem gambling or have supported a loved one through recovery.
The programme will recruit and train specialists to provide support statewide. Services will be offered in person, virtually, and over the telephone.
Elise Mikkelsen, director of the Division of Problem Gambling, said: “Creating an additional pathway to recovery for Arizona community members negatively impacted by problem gambling – via the peer support and recovery services programme – is exciting for our agency and the people we serve. We are proud of our track record of offering timely and effective assistance to Arizonans, and we look forward to adding peer support and recovery services to enhance the comprehensive options available through the Division of Problem Gambling.”
Darfetta Muhammad, chief administrative officer at Dezerve Counseling, added: “We at Dezerve Counseling are honored and excited to partner with the Division of Problem Gambling to launch a dedicated peer support and recovery program for problem gambling. We believe, just as the Division does, that recovery begins with a single step forward. We are proud that Dezerve Counseling can now offer that vital next step to individuals and families navigating problem gambling.”
Arizona tribal gaming contributions to benefits fund rise in Q2
The ADG announced $44.9m in tribal gaming contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund for the second quarter of fiscal year 2026. That’s a 5.6 per cent increase when compared to the same quarter of 2025.
The Arizona Benefits Fund receives 88 per cent of tribal gaming contributions. The remaining 12 per cent is distributed by the tribes to the cities, towns, and counties for community services and public safety programmes for local governments.
