Massachusetts launches gambling recovery app
The app targets people not yet ready for clinical treatment, offering daily check-ins, progress tracking and peer support instead.
Key Takeaways
- The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Office of Problem Gambling Services launched a new mobile app aimed at people who aren’t yet ready for clinical treatment but want to start changing their gambling habits.
- Features include daily check-ins, progress tracking, evidence-based lessons and peer support to connect with others facing similar experiences.
- The state said the app complements, rather than replaces, existing treatment and support services, and is available outside scheduled appointments.
U.S.- The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Office of Problem Gambling Services (OPGS) has launched a new mobile application to expand recovery support for people affected by gambling harm. The app became available in September alongside the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline, offering an additional way for residents to access support as the state enters the football season, when gambling activity typically increases.
The digital platform is designed for people who may not yet be ready to seek clinical treatment but want to begin changing their gambling habits. Users can complete daily check-ins, track their progress and access evidence-based lessons, while peer support features provide an opportunity to connect with others who are going through similar experiences.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said the application is intended to complement, rather than replace, existing treatment and support services. It gives users access to resources at times when traditional services may not be immediately available, including outside scheduled appointments.
“Gambling harm is a public health issue, and it reaches far beyond the person placing the bet,” said Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. “Meeting people where they are means meeting them on the devices they already carry. Massachusetts has been deliberate about building a response grounded in evidence and in the experience of the people it serves, and this is the next step in that work for the Office of Problem Gambling Services.”
The launch coincides with National Recovery Month, observed every September. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has also launched Bet On Respect, an initiative aimed at protecting athletes from harassment by bettors. The regulator will exclude individuals found to have harassed or threatened athletes from licensed sportsbooks and casinos. The commission’s Sports Wagering Division will collect evidence and refer cases to its Investigations and Enforcement Bureau for review.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- What does Massachusetts’ new problem gambling app do? It offers daily check-ins, progress tracking, evidence-based lessons and peer support for people looking to change their gambling habits, without requiring clinical treatment.
- Who is the app designed for? People affected by gambling harm who may not yet be ready to seek clinical treatment, according to the Department of Public Health.
