Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The Office of Problem Gambling Services (OPGS) is happy to announce the release of our Strategic Plan: Working Together to Mitigate Harms Associated with Problem Gambling.

From 2016 to 2021, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ response to mitigating harms from problem gambling was guided by a strategic plan that has fully matured. Over this five-year period, OPGS has engaged over 2,000 individuals along with 40 community-based partners to inform over 23 initiatives. Historically, problem gambling services and efforts have been disconnected from the community experience of problem gambling and people of color. From our inception, we have been committed to leading with the values of engagement, equity, and empowerment—trailblazing a new path in the efforts of problem gambling services. Although the challenges have been great, our accomplishments are made possible through our collective commitment to promote health and well-being for all. Some key milestones from our efforts include:

• Built capacity to fund and support over 20 vendors to carry out evidence-based programs and services at the community level.

• Enhanced treatment services by introducing resources, expansion of language capacity, practice guidelines, grants, trainings, problem gambling screening tools, and coordination of services—leading to the most comprehensive problem gambling treatment services in the country!

• Integrated the problem gambling helpline to improve caller experience, access to services, and education—highlighted by screening over 20,000 substance abuse callers for problem gambling.  

• Launched comprehensive communication campaigns that has resulted in over 44 million impressions centered on the platform “Lets Get Real About Gambling”.

• Established the Massachusetts Center of Excellence for Problem Gambling Prevention and Massachusetts Technical Assistance Center (M-TAC); these innovative centers will ensure uniformity of prevention and treatment best practice, promotion of equity, and the highest level of impact.

After five years of milestones and accomplishments, with your support and partnership we are committed to living up to our values and mission. Our partnership has laid the foundation going forward centered on equity with a focus of optimizing impact. OPGS has been charged with leading a public health driven and equity-centered response to mitigating harms associated with continued expansion of gambling opportunities across the Commonwealth. OPGS operates in concert with colleagues across DPH, in alliance with an array of local, state, and national partners, and in service and response to historically underserved and marginalized communities. By empowering community voice and acknowledging those who are experiencing health inequities, OPGS will promote equity and mitigate harms associated with problem gambling.

OPGS will work over the time period governed by this plan to continue maximizing positive impact by ensuring the reach and effectiveness of problem gambling prevention, treatment, and recovery services. On behalf of the OPGS team, we are grateful for your partnership in our collective efforts to ensure health and well being for all.

Victor Ortiz

Director, Office of Problem Gambling Services