The state of Pennsylvania will be holding a statewide gambling conference beginning on September 30th, October 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Preferred Systems Inc and the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic will be sponsoring the conference.

The conference will take place at the Harrisburg East Holiday Inn and will be opened by Tom Wolf, the Secretary of Revenue. The conference will feature a national expert every day. This will be the first time the state of Pennsylvania council will offer thirty hours of training for basic problem gambling as well as advanced training on two concurrent training tracks. The conference will also have the examination for the International Gambling Counselor Certification available for the first time.

Behavioral health professionals interested can obtain a national certification as a gambling counselor by taking the exam. Throughout the conference different experts will speak including: Ken Winters, PhD of the University of Minnesota and Ken Nelson MD. Winters will speak of youth problem gambling and addictions, presenting the latest findings on the adolescent brain and the addictive process. Nelson will present new discoveries in neurobiology and the pharmacology of gambling treatment.

Other speakers include:

Keith White---Executive Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. White will speak on Public Policy Initiatives and the role of the Advocate.

William J. Kane JD, CSW, CEAP---Kane will speak on gambling treatment, ethics and law.

Nan Horner, JD Pa. Gaming Control Board---Horner will speak on the Regulatory Efforts to curb problem gambling.

Colleen Leonard, National helpline service, ---Leonard will speak on who is calling the helpline and how they can help.

Ed Trees, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Lottery--- Trees will speak on responsible gaming practices.

Joanne and Rick Curlino, gambling treatment experts---The Curlino’s will speak on co-occurring disorders and coordinated care.


- 2008-09-25