Do you live far enough out of Omaha that you really dread the thought of driving to treatment every week?  Have you been thinking about gambling treatment but not sure if you can afford the gas to get into the middle of Omaha from your rural location?  I might have the answer for you.  Distance treatment is an opportunity to come to an appointment around one time every 4 weeks rather than weekly and still get the benefit of weekly contact.  There would be handouts, readings and assignments in between the sessions.  There might be email/mail/internet contact in between the sessions.  This is not for those living close enough to a treatment facility to meet in person, it is for those who have been wanting to attend treatment but have been talking themselves out of it because of the distance to services.  Nebraska has quite a lot of services for those with a gambling problem and their family members but there are sometimes long distances like an hour or more drive between clients and the services they need.  Give me a call and you can learn how we can help you with our new distance treatment service. 402-515-7412

Come learn how to meditate with us… Amy McCae, a wellness and lifestyle coach at Creative Wellness will be at Peace and Power Counseling on September 16 from 7:00PM to 8:00PM teaching us how to meditate. Please join us for this potentially life changing event!

Staff photo/Chad Nation - Employees from Ameristar Casino Hotel, Harrah’s Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel and Horseshoe Casino joined forces Monday at Harrah’s to celebrate the kickoff Responsible Gaming Education Week. All three Council Bluffs casinos have participated in Responsible Gaming Week since its inception by the American Gaming Association in 1998.

  Casinos promote responsible gaming 
By Chad Nation, Staff Writer
[email protected]
Published: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 10:41 AM CDT
Daily Nonpareil/Nonpareil Online

The three Council Bluffs casinos joined forces Monday to kick off Responsible Gaming Education Week.

Ameristar Casino Hotel, Harrah’s Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel and Horseshoe Casino have participated in Responsible Gaming Week since its inception by the American Gaming Association in 1998.

Employees from all three casinos and local gambling treatment providers assembled at Harrah’s Monday to accept a proclamation from Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan.

Council Bluffs Finance Director Art Hill read Hanafan’s proclamation and commended the employees for promoting responsible gambling.

“We want to thank the employees of the casinos and the executives for all you do to promote responsible gaming,” Hill said.

Jane Bell, director of governmental affairs at Ameristar, said Ameristar would focus on this year’s theme, “Taking the Mystery Out of the Slot Machine,” by correcting misconceptions about the games and hosting activities to dispel common myths.

“We are proud promote responsible play and to participate in Responsible Gaming Education Week. It is a great opportunity to educate the community about gaming disorders,” she said.

Jeff Graber, director of surveillance at Harrah’s and Responsible Gaming chairperson, said the gaming community in Council Bluffs is fortunate to have a good relationship with treatment providers for gambling addiction.

“It is important to have a relationship and partnership with treatment providers,” he said. “We have a common cause, and we’re proud to be close to those who can provide help.”
Graber said part of being a “strong community citizen” as a casino is providing assistance for problem gambling.

“Assistance is needed for a select group – between 1 and 4 percent – and when that instance arises we have somewhere to direct them,” he said.

Mary O’Neill, program director for gambling treatment at Heartland Family Services, said the number one source for referrals for treatment comes from the casinos themselves.

Graber said while employees cannot catch every problem gambler, they are trained to recognize signs that would indicate someone “is having a bad time.”

“Our corporate philosophy is that we want our customers to have fun. If they are not having fun or can’t set limits, we don’t need their business,” he said.

Graber said Harrah’s would use the week to continue ongoing communications with employees about not only problem gaming but also underage gaming and responsible alcohol service.

“It is a special week, but it also reinforces what we want our employees to do every week,” he added.