Organizations – Karen Russo

Candidate’s Name
Karen Russo

Candidate’s NCPG Membership Group
Organizational Representative (confirmed for 2021-2022)

Candidate’s Address (State)
Ohio

Nominated by
Stacey Frohnapfel-Hasson

What is your Interest in serving on the Board? What skills can you bring to the Board?
I am interested in serving on the NCPG Board to assist with advocating the need of expanding best practice responsible gambling standards and offering my expertise in regulation for 3 decades.  I am well versed in the gaming industry with knowledge of the operators and problem gambling stakeholders, including current legislation on a national level.  I am passionate to the mission of providing safe & entertainment gambling, while fulfilling the critical need of funding problem gambling services and treatment for individuals with a gambling problem or diagnosed with Disordered Gambling.

What is your vision for NCPG, and what goals do you have for the organization?
I know first hand that NCPG is the primary source for setting responsible gambling standards in the gaming industry.  NCPG has grown problem gambling awareness exponentially since I joined in 2011.  With the expansion of sports betting, iLottery, additional on-line betting, and youth gaming, I would like to offer my experience and communication skills to NCPG to further its mission and comprehensive approach to assist individuals with a gambling problem and family members affected by those individuals.  In addition, expanding the focus of prevention in the at-risk populations; specifically, African American, Latinx, Asian, Arabic, young adult, and Veteran communities.

What relevant leadership and/or committee roles have you held in NCPG, state Affiliate or related organizations?
-I currently serve on the Ohio state NCPG Affiliate Problem Gambling Network of Ohio (PGNO) and the  State of Ohio Problem Gambling Advisory Board since 2011.
-I currently serve on the NCPG Responsible Gambling & Regulation Committee and the NASPL Responsible Gambling Committee.
-I have been an NCPG Organizational Representative for approximately 11 years.

How many NCPG Board meetings and/or affiliate committee meetings have you attended?
I serve on the NCPG and NASPL Responsible Gambling & Regulation Committees and have attended NCPG Board meetings at conferences since 2011.

For Affiliate Representatives: How have you participated in the work of the Affiliates Committee?
n/a

What ideas and experience do you have that can help NCPG grow its membership and fundraising?
The experience I have had with obtaining sponsors for the 2018 NCPG conference in Ohio gave me direct insight into the challenges NCPG has faced with funding.  We were extremely successful in garnering sponsorships for that national conference. Although limited in my capacity as a gaming regulator in fundraising, I will assist NCPG to the best of my ability.

I would like to see NCPG expand its awareness & membership into the national judicial system.  Courts throughout the US are seeing an increase in the number of cases related to problem gambling.  This includes criminal, civil, domestic, and all specialty dockets; drug/alcohol, mental health and veteran’s treatment courts.  Expanding membership and support in this area would be extremely beneficial.

Do you have any personal or professional conflicts that would prevent you from engaging fully in advocacy? If so, please describe them.
Yes, I have conflicts regarding advocacy. As an employee of the State of Ohio and the Ohio Lottery, I am prohibited to ask for contributions from our current vendors.

Do you have any personal or professional conflicts that would prevent you from engaging fully in fundraising?
Yes, I have conflicts regarding fundraising. As an employee of the State of Ohio and the Ohio Lottery, I am prohibited to ask for contributions from our current vendors.

How long have you been a member of NCPG and what led you to join initially?
I have been a member of NCPG since 2011.  I have worked at the Ohio Lottery in various positions for nearly 3 decades (1991); serving in PR/communications, web administration, sales, and responsible gambling for the last decade of my career.  When Ohio expanded casino/racino gaming into legislation in 2010, I was asked to take on the extraordinary task of implementing a comprehensive responsible gambling program and expanding problem gambling advocacy for the Lottery.  NCPG set the highest standards and provided extensive information through worldwide experts in RG & regulation.  I have utilized this expertise and information to grow Ohio’s RG efforts into one of the best practice programs today.

Biographical Statement
Karen Russo was named Director of Responsible Gambling in January 2020 and serves as the Lottery’s Problem Gambling Advocate, ensuring best practices in corporate social responsibility.  In her nearly 30-year tenure at the Lottery, she has held various positions in the Sales Division, Web Administration, communications and public relations.  Ms. Russo serves on the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) Responsible Gambling & Regulation Committee, the Ohio Problem Gambling Advisory Board, the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio Advisory Board, the Cleveland Foodbank External Affairs Committee, and an active member of National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).  Ms. Russo received the NASPL 2019 Powers Award and 15 national awards, along with state agency partners for problem gambling awareness programs.  Ms. Russo has presented at in-state & national conferences throughout the years on creating a statewide voluntary exclusion program and the success of Ohio’s problem gambling stakeholder partnerships.

Ms. Russo has a degree from Kent State University in Public Relations.  Prior to joining the Lottery, she served as Promotions Director for the Cleveland Crunch- Major Indoor Soccer League.  Karen is a proud mother of 3 children and resides in Cleveland, OH.