(1) Problem gambling is a public health dis-
order characterized by increasing preoccupation with 
gambling, loss of control, restlessness or irritability 
when attempting to stop, and continuation of the 
gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, 
negative consequences. 
(2) Over 6,000,000 adults met criteria for a 
gambling problem last year. 
(3) The estimated social cost to families and 
communities from bankruptcy, divorce, job loss, and 
criminal justice costs associated with problem gam-
bling was $6,700,000,000 last year. 
(4) Problem gambling is associated with higher 
incidence of bankruptcy, domestic abuse, and sui-
cide. 
(5) Problem gamblers have high rates of co-oc-
curring substance abuse and mental health dis-
orders. 
(6) In response to current budget shortfalls, 
many States are considering or have enacted legisla-
tion to expand legal gambling activities with the in-
tent of raising State revenues. 
(7) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the lead Fed-
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eral agency for substance abuse and mental health 
services. 
(8) There are no agencies or individuals in the 
Federal Government with a formal responsibility for 
problem gambling. 
SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF GAMBLING IN SAMHSA AUTHORI-
TIES. 
Section 501(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 290aa(d)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(17); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (18) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(19) establish and implement programs for the 
identification, prevention, and treatment of problem 
and pathological gambling.’’. 
SEC. 4. PUBLIC AWARENESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall carry out a national campaign to increase 
knowledge and raise awareness with respect to problem 
gambling issues within the general public, including sup-
porting and augmenting existing national campaigns and 
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the production and placement of public service announce-
ments. 
(b) VOLUNTARY DONATIONS.—In carrying out sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) administer and coordinate the voluntary do-
nation of resources to assist in the implementation 
of new programs and the augmentation of existing 
national campaigns to provide national strategies for 
dissemination of information intended to address 
problem gambling from— 
(A) the television, radio, motion picture, 
cable communications, and print media; 
(B) the advertising industry; 
(C) the business sector of the United 
States; and 
(D) professional sports organizations and 
associations; and 
(2) encourage media outlets throughout the 
country to provide information aimed at preventing 
problem gambling, including public service an-
nouncements, documentary films, and advertise-
ments. 
(c) FOCUS.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall target radio and television audiences of, but 
not limited to, sporting and gambling events. 
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(d) EVALUATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall evaluate and report to the President 
and to the Congress on the effectiveness of activities under 
this section. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized 
to be appropriated $200,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 
through 2014. 
SEC. 5. RESEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall establish and 
implement a national program of research on problem 
gambling. 
(b) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section, the 
President shall appoint an advisory commission, including 
individuals not currently employed by the Federal Govern-
ment, to coordinate the activities of Federal agencies relat-
ing to research on problem gambling, including the activi-
ties of the National Institutes of Health, the National 
Science Foundation, the National Institute of Justice, the 
Bureau of Justice Statistics, and the Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration. 
(c) NATIONAL GAMBLING IMPACT STUDY COMMIS-
SION REPORT.—In carrying out this section, the President 
shall consider the recommendations that appear in chapter 
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8 of the June 18, 1999, report of the National Gambling 
Impact Study Commission. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized 
to be appropriated $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2010 through 2014. 
SEC. 6. TREATMENT. 
(a) GRANTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may make 
grants to States, local, and tribal governments, and 
nonprofit agencies to provide comprehensive services 
with respect to treatment and prevention of problem 
gambling issues and education about problem gam-
bling issues. 
(2) APPLICATION FOR GRANT.—A grant may be 
made under paragraph (1) only if an application for 
the grant is submitted to the Secretary and the ap-
plication is in such form, is made in such manner, 
and contains such agreements, assurances, and in-
formation as the Secretary determines to be nec-
essary to carry out this subsection. 
(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For 
the purpose of carrying out this subsection, there is 
authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2010 through 2014. 
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