Problem Gambling Pioneer: Sue Cox

Despite having recently retired to the undulating golf course adjacent to her new home in Waco, Texas, Sue Cox goes to bed each night with the fear that she could have helped yet one more person that day. Since her days as a schoolteacher and then as a social worker, Cox has made it her mission to improve the lives of people in her community through education, counseling and treatment. Nothing changed when she became interested in problem gambling.

When she founded the Texas Council on Problem and Compulsive Gambling (TCPCG) in 1991, Cox approached her new undertaking from an anti-gambling perspective. She remembers thinking that problem gamblers were borne of casinos – that the very existence of gaming created this growing public health crisis. It didn't take long, however, for her to realize that this was not the case and that, in fact, the problem of irresponsible gambling was signaling a larger mental health issue.

To address this issue, Cox developed the National Problem Gambling HelpLine, which offers some immediate counseling services but functions primarily as a treatment referral service for callers. It is administered from 26 call centers across the country to provide a comprehensive network of nationwide coverage. Cox is quick to mention that the help line is not intended to be a "quick fix" for gamblers who suddenly find themselves in need of help.  Rather, the goal is to, "as quickly as possible, get someone who needs help into a continuum of care."

When Texas opened the door for a state lottery in 1992, Cox and the TCPCG were waiting on the front stoop. As a result of Cox's efforts to increase awareness of problem gambling, legislation was passed requiring that every lottery ticket include the help line telephone number.

After 18 years fighting for legislation in a variety of fields, Cox remains interested in working with state and federal decision makers to improve research and treatment of problem gambling. At this summer's National Conference on Problem Gambling, she became aware of efforts being made in Canada to allocate general tax dollars to an effort to address problem gambling as a public health issue. Cox believes this is a significant development that should be followed by legislatures throughout the United States.
 
Cox has steadfastly said that problem gambling should be treated much like mental health disorders are treated. It requires an attention to the various aspects of an individual's personal life and not simply to his or her gambling habits.

Though retired from the TCPCG, Cox remains active with several organizations devoted to problem gambling and related fields.
She was a founding board member of the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) and continues to serve on the board. Cox also serves on the College Gambling Task Force – dealing with the problem of illegal gambling on college campuses – the Senior Gambling Task Force, Task Force of Suicide and Faith Community, and the National Council on Problem Gambling Task Force on Problem Gambling in the Military.

Asked if she misses her full-time involvement in problem gambling, Cox said, "I tell people I'm on sabbatical. I want to get back into problem gambling as quickly as possible."