If you or someone you care for needs treatment for a gambling problem, it is important to know that no single treatment approach is appropriate for all individuals. Finding the right treatment program involves careful consideration of such things as the setting, length of care, philosophical approach and your or your loved one's needs. We encourage you to thoroughly investigate your options.

Here are 12 questions to consider asking when selecting a gambling treatment program:

1. Are their counselors and staff experienced in treating problem gamblers? (How many problem gamblers are currently in their program; how many problem gamblers have they treated in the past year; what percentage of the patients are problem gamblers)?
2. How many hours per day are dedicated to gambling specific treatment or education? What are the groups or educational topics that address the specific needs of problem gamblers and their families?
3. Does the program accept your insurance? If not, will they work with you on a payment plan or find other means of support for you?
4. Does the program encompass the full range of assessment and treatment needs of the individual/family (medical: including universal precautions for infectious diseases; psychological: including co-occurring substance abuse and mental health problems; financial: money management, budgeting and restitution; social; vocational; legal; spiritual; etc.)?
5. Does the treatment program also address sexual orientation and physical disabilities as well as provide age, gender and culturally appropriate services?
6. Is long-term continuing care support and/or guidance encouraged, provided and maintained?
7. Is there ongoing assessment of an individual's treatment plan to ensure it meets changing needs?
8. Does the program employ strategies to engage and keep individuals in treatment, increasing the likelihood of success?
9. Does the program offer counseling (individual and group) and other behavioral therapies to enhance the individual's ability to function in the family/community?
10. Does the program offer medication as part of the treatment regimen, if appropriate?
11. Is there ongoing monitoring of possible relapse?
12. Are services or referrals offered to family members to ensure they understand problem gambling, its impact on the family and the recovery process?

(adapted from A Quick Guide To Finding Effective Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2002)

Gambling treatment programs listed in the Treatment Locator are:

1. Licensed or accredited by a state or national authority to provide substance abuse and/or mental health treatment; AND
2. Have a gambling specific track or protocol; AND
3. Have at least one full time clinical staff member who is a Certified Gambling Counselor.
4. Paid an Annual listing fee of $250. Click Here to purchase at our Online Store.

These criteria are explained in further detail below.

Licensed or accredited means the program must be approved to provide substance abuse and/or mental health treatment by one of the following:

• Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
• Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
• State Department of:
  • Health, Mental Health or Public Health
  • Human Services or Social Services
  • Alcohol, Substance Abuse or Chemical Dependency.

Gambling specific treatment plan and/or protocol is a treatment plan specifically designed for problem gambling clients. The treatment plan should indicate a comprehensive view to gambling treatment, thorough assessment and adequate care of gambling specific treatment needs (family, educational, financial, legal etc.) for clients.

Certified Gambling Counselor is defined as an individual who has completed a specific course of study in problem gambling treatment and has been certified by either:

• A national credentialing organization (National Gambling Counselor Certification Board-NCGC; American Gambling Counselor Certification Board-CCGC; or American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders-CAS); OR
• A state certification organization that requires a minimum of 30 hours of problem gambling specific training and a period of direct (supervisor personal contact) supervision related to treating addicted gamblers.

Residential treatment programs are organized and staffed to provide both general and specialized non-hospital-based interdisciplinary services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Residential treatment services are organized to provide environments in which the persons reside and receive services from personnel who are trained in the delivery of services for persons with behavioral health disorders or related problems. Residential treatment may be provided in freestanding, non-hospital-based facilities or in units of larger entities, such as a wing of a hospital. Residential treatment programs may include domestic violence treatment homes, non-hospital addiction treatment centers, intermediate care facilities, psychiatric treatment centers, or other non-medical settings.

(adapted from Behavioral Health Care Programs, CARF, 2002)

Inpatient treatment programs provide coordinated and integrated services in hospital settings. Inpatient treatment is provided 24 hours, 7 days a week. Inpatient treatment programs include a comprehensive, biopsychosocial-spiritual approach to service delivery with a key component being close coordination of services with other service providers and organizations who may be involved in service provision for the persons served. There are daily therapeutic activities in which the persons served participate. The goal of inpatient treatment is to provide a protective environment that includes medical stabilization, support, treatment for psychiatric or addictive disorders, and supervision. Such programs operate in designated space that allows for an appropriate medical treatment environment.

(adapted from Behavioral Health Care Programs, CARF, 2002)

Click Here to view the following programs that have applied and met our criteria:

To list your facility in our directory, click here.

For an additional online searchable directory of individual National Certified Gambling Counselors (NCGC) counselors, Click here.

NOTICE: The Locator contains treatment centers who have voluntarily applied to be listed on the NCPG website. The directory is not a complete listing, of all problem gambling treatment centers, but solely a listing of those treatment centers that have been approved for a listing on the NCPG website. An Annual listing fee of $250 is assessed to each facility listed in the directory. Inclusion on this web site of any entity, product, service or information does NOT constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the NCPG. NCPG is not responsible for the contents of any "off-site" web pages or programs accessed through this site. NCPG does not endorse entities, products or services provided by any such sites or programs. In addition, NCPG does not necessarily endorse or oppose the views expressed by any other entity or website, whether or not linked to this NCPG site. Locator information is compiled by NCPG from information believed reliable and provided by applicants and NCPG state affiliates, but neither the accuracy nor completeness of such information is guaranteed in any way and anyone using the same does so at their own risk. This list is compiled and maintained at the sole discretion of the NCPG, which reserves the right to deny inclusion based on its proprietary criteria.

DISCLAIMER: Listing in the treatment directory must be renewed an on annual basis. Facilities that have not renewed their listing by January 1st will be removed from the directory. It is the responsibility of the treatment center to provide the NCPG with any changes that may affect their directory listing. In the event that the facility ceases to exist, the NCPG must be notified immediately.