Edition 56, April 2026

Words from Wiley

Greetings,

Another statewide conference on problem gambling has come and gone. Thanks to Jeff Marotta and Jerry Bauerkemper for being our keynote speakers and to the recovery panel for sharing their stories. There was also a recap of one year's utilization of the Evive app.

Since the conference, we have seen a record number of statewide self-exclusion forms, after we began to offer the form electronically. Since January of 2026, we have also seen record numbers of social media requests for more information. The instant contact form of our paid social media ads gives us the capability to directly refer individuals to counseling sessions at our certified treatment programs. March 2026 also saw a record number of participants in the 30-Hour Basic Training program. Even though there are six states involved in the training, Oklahoma had over 40 participants.

In the coming months, there will be an extra track in our Evive app. Currently, one can work on tracks to stay responsible, to cut back, or to stop gambling. The new track will be for family members or affected others to work on their own recovery program with many of the same features of the other tracks. Hopefully by the end of the year there will also be a website for counselors as they seek to help clients that are also using the app.

OAPGG is dedicated to keeping up-to-date on all digital forms of gambling. The various forms of digital gambling are known by many names other than gambling, including gaming, cryptocurrency, games of skill, social casinos, and prediction markets. The industry creates the names of the new formats and never calls them by their actual term, which is gambling. Therefore, as counselors we need to be aware and use some of the new terms, as all of our assessment tools still use the word gambling. Remember that when assessment tools were initially developed, including the DSM-5TR, the newer forms and names of betting did not exist. All of the new names meet the definition of gambling, so our treatment methods and assessments are still valid. We simply need to use the inclusive terms so our clients know the criteria for gambling disorder still applies.

Wiley

Wiley D. Harwell
Executive Director of OAPGG

New National Helpline Number

The National Problem Gambling Helpline has updated its number to 1-800-MY-RESET. All calls made from an Oklahoma number will be routed to the Oklahoma help center so that individuals can receive local resources and support.
Call: 1-800-MY-RESET
Text: 800GAM
Chat: www.1800myreset.org

OAPGG will be sending new brochures and flyers with the updated information to all tribal nations in the coming weeks.

Midwest Conference on Problem Gambling and Substance Abuse

From Stigma to Strength: Changing the Conversation, Changing the Tune

Earn up to 15 hours of CEUs, which can be counted toward gambling certification renewal if the presentation is gambling specific.

Dates: June 17-19, 2026
Location: Adams Pointe Conference Center, Blue Springs, Missouri

To receive a scholarship from OAPGG, select the “scholarship” option when you register on the conference website. OAPGG will take care of the rest!

Registration will open soon.

Recover Her

An Online Support Group for Women in Oklahoma

Evive

Sports Betting White Paper

OAPGG has published our recommendations on sports betting policy and shared it with state lawmakers. The policy recommendations include eight areas that any sports betting bill should address:

financial support for treatment, prevention, and awareness
accurate advertising
protection of vulnerable populations
helpline promotion
participation in the statewide self-exclusion program
allowing customers to set limits on their gambling
collecting and sharing data
training employees and educating youth

OAPGG’s Recent Activities

Annual Conference

This year's conference included Jerry Bauerkemper and Jeff Marotta as keynote speakers, and Adam Lyons and Christina Cook shared updates on the Evive app. The conference also included a recovery panel.