The US Virgin Islands has made substantial strides toward addressing gambling-related harm after a new memorandum of understanding between the V.I. Casino Control Commission (VICCC) and the V.I. Health Department (VIDOH). An official ceremony at the VICCC office in Orange Grove, St. Croix, marked the beginning of a collaborative effort to tackle problem gambling in the territory.
Local Counselors Will Provide Valuable Knowledge
Under the MOU, VICCC will fund training and certification for seven counselors to offer specialized treatment for gambling addiction in St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John districts. The initiative aligns with US Virgin Island regulations, which allocate 1% of casino revenue to gambling harm prevention and treatment. VICCC chair and CEO Marvin L. Pickering was optimistic that this collaboration would produce palpable results.
The signing of this memorandum… emphasizes the importance of identifying and assisting individuals and their families facing gambling-related problems.
Marvin L. Pickering, VICCC chair and CEO
Local news outlet Virgin Islands Source revealed the initiative also places significant focus on community-based counselors, planning to have three each in St. Croix and St. Thomas and one in St. John. These experts have all received certifications to address gambling addiction and related disorders, ensuring that residents can easily access culturally sensitive and locally relevant support.
It has always been a vision of the commission to have counselors on the ground who understand the culture of our people.
Marvin L. Pickering, VICCC chair and CEO
The counselors have the skills needed to aid individuals and families affected by gambling addiction. These include suicide prevention strategies, evidence-based treatment approaches, and etiologic predictors and risk factors. In addition to their initial training, counselors undergo supervision by board-approved clinical consultants and receive certification recognized by the International Gambling Counselor Certification Board.
Operator Licensing Fees Will Provide Funding
Pickering hoped this initiative would kickstart a transformative journey for local communities. He admitted that previous efforts to address gambling harm had stalled. The new program incorporates the lessons of these unsuccessful attempts and has the benefit of the Department of Health’s full support, significantly bolstering its reach.
The initiative is an example of how government agencies can work together to usher in meaningful public health improvements. Casino licenses provide an additional revenue stream to finance these efforts through a 12% tax on gross earnings. VIDOH commissioner Justa Encarnacion noted that this mix of industry involvement and local knowledge would be instrumental in resonating with communities.
In a close-knit community like ours, many of us know someone who has struggled with problem gambling or has seen its effect on family and friends.
Justa Encarnacion, VIDOH commissioner
According to Pickering, the MOU was more than a formal agreement as it signaled a renewed commitment to address gambling harm by relying on shared values and mutual trust. The territory’s approach reflects a growing awareness of the requirement for tailored, more localized solutions to gambling-related harm, drawing lessons from other successful jurisdictions and adapting them to local conditions.
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