A new US-based advocacy organization, the Family and Friends of Gamblers (FFOG), has been launched to campaign for comprehensive public health regulations in the online gambling industry.
The group will formally begin its activities on November 6 with an event titled "Lifting the FOG Day" in Washington DC.
Formed with support from the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) at Northeastern University School of Law, FFOG aims to represent the millions of people indirectly affected by gambling addiction. Research cited by the organization indicates that for every individual struggling with gambling disorder, up to 10 family members or friends also experience serious harm.
According to FFOG's founding board member Mark Gottlieb, the organization seeks to amplify these voices and expose the social costs of the gambling industry's rapid growth. He compared the group's mission to the early efforts of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), a group that successfully advocated for the changing alcohol laws in the United States.
FFOG leaders, including Dr Harry Levant and Professor Richard Daynard, have warned that gambling addiction now poses a major public health threat. They argue that online gambling platforms deliver an addictive product using marketing and design models similar to those once employed by Big Tobacco.
The group's motto, "Hurt by Gambling. Silent No Longer," reflects its commitment to advocating for stronger protections, stricter regulation and greater accountability from the online gambling industry.
Since the 2018 repeal of PASPA sports betting has been legalized in 39 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, while online casino gambling operates in seven states
