The San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently passed a resolution recognizing March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month.

Problem gambling is a public health issue with potentially devastating consequences on the mental, physical, and financial health of both those afflicted by it and their loved ones. In various studies, the Chinese community has shown higher rates of problem gambling/ gambling disorder (“addiction”), and a greater negative impact from the disease. A San Francisco Chinatown social worker once estimated that between a quarter and a third of all her domestic violence and divorce cases actually had their roots in problem gambling

Locally, CCHCA/AAMG partners with NICOS Chinese Health Coalition, which provides problem gambling education (both consumer and professional CEU training) and hosts a helpline, 1 (888) 968-7888, that serves as a multilingual gateway to many cost-free resources, including referrals to State-subsidized therapists for problem gamblers and affected individuals.