The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), the national advocacy organization for people and their families who are affected by problem gambling, announced changes to its 34th National Conference on Gambling Addiction and Responsible Gambling that will better ensure the safety of participants and attendees.
NCPG has been closely following the coronavirus-related health measures that have forced the cancellations of many public events. After weighing options and consulting with members, presenters, sponsors, other stakeholders and health authorities, the decision has been announced to split the conference into two sessions to provide the safest experience while accommodating the maximum number of stakeholders.
In July, there will be multiple pre-conference online sessions with innovative content that will provide a mix of specialized sessions tailored to specific audiences, with up to 16 hours of content in one-hour blocks. The previously planned main conference moves to November 4-6, and will feature in-person sessions, still at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., with new Master Class sessions added on the afternoon of November 6.
“We’ve heard from many of you about how important our national conference is, offering as it does a unique opportunity for people from all facets of the behavioral health fields and gambling industry to meet, collaborate on solving problems, and learn from each other,” said Keith Whyte, executive director of the NCPG. “We believe that holding the ‘split’ conference in this way will optimize the learning and networking opportunities for our attendees.
“Our unshakeable belief in the value of our conference means that we will be working tirelessly to facilitate the professional and informative event that our stakeholders value and need, even during this pandemic.”
In spite of this year’s obstacles, there is great optimism about delivering a full slate of excellent sessions, the organization said. NCPG will offer education and training on sports betting, internet gambling and iLottery, which are becoming increasingly important and expanding across the U.S. quickly due to the pandemic.
Sessions will offer specific information for counselors, government, and gaming operators in D.C., Maryland and Virginia to help address the March 2020 launch of sports betting in D.C. and the November 2020 referendums on sports betting in Maryland and Virginia.
The conference also will provide its customary broad education in problem gambling treatment, prevention, community and recovery; veterans and active military issues in gambling; Native American tribal gaming; and responsible gambling. Complete information and schedules for the updated events will be released shortly.
