OAPGG Newsletter
Edition 52, April 2025
News and resources for
Those with lived experience
Counselors and Peer Support Specialists
Tribal partners
Words from Wiley
Greetings,
For the third year in a row, sports betting bills have been posed for consideration. This year, House Bill 1047 has passed the House and now awaits Senate approval. The bill includes $25 thousand per month for ODMHSAS to address problem gambling; however, the bill is missing language to support responsible gambling issues.
OAPGG is neutral on all issues concerning legal forms of gambling, but we are advocates for responsible gambling and providing the public with guardrails and guidelines to participate in a safer manner. For instance, we need sports books to participate in the statewide self-exclusion program. Iowa has sports betting in brick-and-mortar facilities but also has mobile betting. There are 19 facilities or casinos with sports betting, operated by 18 different sport book companies. In Oklahoma, it is likely that all of the major sport book companies would be hired by the tribes. If we don't have mandated participation in the statewide self-exclusion program, the person who needs to be self-excluded could do so from one operator but would then be able to hop around to other sports book operators. Please help by contacting your legislators and senators to tell them we need better responsible gambling guidelines.
On May 9 at 1 pm, there will be an online CEU opportunity for counselors on using the Evive app with clients. You will receive a PDF of the outline of worksheets that you can use to help the client follow a path of recovery.
In early summer, there will be a 3-hour CEU workshop to learn how to use the Group Workbook for gambling disorder clients. The workbook has one year's worth of exercises and worksheets with simple instructions for the counselor or peer support specialist to facilitate group participation.
There is more happening in the world of gambling than ever in the history of this country. It is more important now that we increase awareness of the help that is available in our state and continue to be national leaders in our efforts.
Wiley
Wiley D. Harwell
Executive Director of OAPGG
Lived Experience
Evive
OAPGG is proud to offer Evive to all Oklahomans for free. Evive can help you:
Set goals: Stay in control, cut back, or stop gambling
Track your progress: Build positive habits with brief daily check-ins
Stay accountable: Gain extra accountability in addition to statewide self-exclusion
Counselors and Peer Support Specialists
Learn how to use the Evive app alongside counseling. You will receive a PDF of the outline of worksheets that you can use to help the client follow a path of recovery.
May 9 at 1pm, online. Earn 1 CEU. Registration is free!
Learn how to facilitate group participation using the workbook, which includes one year’s worth of exercises and worksheets.
June 6 from 1pm to 4pm, online. Earn 3 CEUs. Registration is free!
This year's MCPGSA will take place on June 18-20, at the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri.
Scholarships are available for Oklahoma counselors to cover the registration fee. Please select the "scholarship" option when you register.
Tribal Partners
New Brochures and Posters
OAPGG has sent over 8,000 posters and 200 brochures to tribal partners. The new brochures and posters feature two updates:
Helpline. Oklahoma now offers text and chat options for the helpline. The service is available 24/7 and will connect individuals to local Oklahoma resources.
Evive. OAPGG is now offering the Evive app free to all Oklahomans. The app has 3 different tracks: safe, cut back, or quit, so anyone can use it to meet their individual goals. A QR code on the brochure makes the app easy to download.
New Training Presentation
OAPGG has mailed 31 new training presentations to our tribal partners. The film features 6 different scenarios: unattended children, angry outbursts, problem gambling among employees, underage gambling, panhandling, and problem gambling resources.
OAPGG’s Recent Activities
Annual Statewide Conference on Problem Gambling
OAPGG's 18th annual statewide conference featured Dr. Alyssa Wilson and Dr. Robert Navarra as speakers.
Sam DeMello, founder of Evive, also shared his recovery story and talked about bringing Evive to Oklahoma.
Problem Gambling Awareness Month
March was Problem Gambling Awareness Month. In addition to hosting the annual conference, OAPGG applied for a proclamation and collaborated with ODAAT (One Day at a Time) Gambling Awareness on a social media campaign.