As legal sports betting continues to expand across the United States, regulators and experts are emphasizing responsible gambling. To that end, a regional company is showing leadership in providing treatment services for gambling addiction and help assist in the responsible gambling effort.
Birches Health, which was founded and has offices in New Jersey and New York, is a self-described “insurance-covered program … run by a clinical team with decades of experience as leaders in gambling-specialized care.”
Recently, Birches Health teamed with Pro League Network (PLN), a sports betting content provider, to add responsible gaming resources to that network. As a result, many sports fans and bettors will have the chance to access problem gambling treatment if needed.
A ‘need for modern’ solution births Birches Health
Birches said they aim to “help people struggling with gambling addiction live the lives they deserve.” The company also provides treatment and counseling in other areas that can pose problems to some individuals, including casino gambling, video gaming, cryptocurrency, day trading, internet addiction, and pornography.
As partners, PLN and Birches said in a press release that they hope to “ensure that wagering on PLN sports is done in a healthy, sustainable manner through the production and promotion of clinician-led educational materials and support resources.”
Birches only offers assistance from trained clinicians. Those skilled resources, which could save someone from the serious harm that gambling addiction causes, will now be available a click or call away on the PLN network of sports platforms. PLN is behind several unique sporting events such as str33t, a 3×3 basketball league, and has deals with US Strongman and US Pro Mini-Gold, among others.
In an exclusive interview with PlayNJ, Birches Health founder Elliott Rapaport explained that his decision to start the company was personal.
“[The] inspiration behind Birches Health came from witnessing a friend struggle with their gambling,” Rappaport said.
“During this experience, it became clear there was a need for a modern, virtual solution covered by insurance and state funding. Understanding the unique challenges facing sports bettors from 18 to 40 years old enabled the Birches Health team to scale up specialized services for this problem and demographic.”
Birches boasts ‘highest-quality clinical outcomes’ for those in need
According to Rappaport, the Birches solutions are grounded in clinical expertise.
“Birches Health’s foremost strength is our clinical program.” Rappaport said. “Our clinical leadership team has used their seven-plus decades of experience treating gambling and gaming disorders to build a best-in-class, evidence-based care program.
“We’re interested in the highest-quality clinical outcomes. We are proud to partner with state governments and insurance companies across the US to ensure clinician-led, specialized treatment is available nationally.”
Often, an individual can be susceptible to multiple addictive behaviors.
“Due to the high frequency of co-occurring disorders, our clinical team is trained in treating dual-diagnoses and other clinically complex instances of behavioral health,” Rappaport said.
Education is key to success of responsible gambling programs
You can’t help a person suffering from gambling addiction until they understand the problem.
And that starts with education.
“There are far too many people betting on sports for the first time without learning beforehand how to do it sustainably, how much to risk, or how difficult it is to turn a profit in the long term,” Rappaport explained.
“As a society, we wouldn’t let a 16-year-old start driving without first proving their knowledge and abilities with a driver’s license test, but sports betting doesn’t require any similar form of education beforehand, despite also carrying significant dangers and risks.
“This doesn’t mean that new bettors should have to pass a sports betting test before betting, but education could be more integrated into the registration and onboarding processes.”
Gambling addiction can exist alongside other behavioral disorders
Is online gambling addiction an indication of a wider health issue posed by technology, mobile devices, and personal, deliverable entertainment? Rappaport says yes.
“Online gambling addiction is linked with the proliferation of entertainment being at our fingertips all day, every day in today’s world,” Rappaort told PlayNJ. “We see a significant segment of our patients with co-occurring disorders alongside gambling addiction. Those experiencing gambling-related harms often are struggling with additional mental and behavioral health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and other behavioral and process addictions.”
As a result, regulators and society as a whole have a duty to shield citizens from the dangers of online and other forms of gambling, Rappaport said.
“Protecting consumers should always be the most important focus, especially at-risk populations like teenagers that are exposed to advertising and marketing. It feels like there has been significant cross-functional conversation this year, but there is more work to be done.
“Anyone who feels they might be experiencing a harmful relationship with sports betting should immediately seek help from a gambling specialist. Speaking with a licensed counselor who specializes in treating problem gambling is pivotal… [Birches Health] specialists provide a clinical assessment and a customized treatment plan tailored to each individual’s specific needs.”
Rappaport: Removing stigma of seeking help makes all the difference
More than 30 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Canada offer legal online wagering, obviously including New Jersey sports betting. Seven jurisdictions also have legal iGaming, which includes the NJ online casino industry.
That proliferation of the activity, and the hype surrounding it, pose a challenge for responsible gambling advocates, especially when it comes to taking the first step.
As Rappaport put it:
“Removing the negative stigma attached to seeking support, such as taking that initial step by talking to a professional, can make all the difference.”
