The School of Medicine and its Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling have turned a problem once blamed on moral failings into a public health issue requiring research and treatment.
This story is one in a series about the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) contributions to U.S. history as the nation celebrates its 250th birthday this year. The stories are featured on The Elm website and in The Elm Weekly newsletter. The series also can be read at the UMB Celebrates America at 250 website.
For generations, gambling problems were often viewed as a matter of poor judgment, lack of willpower, or personal responsibility. Individuals and families struggling with gambling-related harms frequently suffered in silence, with few resources available for support.
As gambling opportunities expanded throughout the United States in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, researchers and clinicians increasingly recognized that gambling addiction shared many characteristics with substance use disorders and required evidence-based treatment.
The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) helped lead that shift in understanding.
Through its clinical programs, research initiatives, and statewide partnerships, UMSOM has worked to increase awareness of gambling disorder as a serious behavioral health condition that can affect individuals, families, workplaces, and entire communities. Faculty experts have helped educate health care providers, policymakers, and the public about the warning signs of gambling addiction and the importance of early intervention and treatment.
A cornerstone of these efforts has been the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, housed within UMSOM. Established to address the growing need for prevention, treatment, and recovery services, the center serves as a statewide resource for individuals affected by gambling-related harms while supporting research, education, and professional training throughout Maryland.
The center’s work reflects a broader understanding that addiction is not limited to drugs and alcohol. Gambling disorder can have profound consequences, including financial hardship, mental health challenges, family conflict, and increased risk of substance use and suicide. By bringing scientific rigor and clinical expertise to the field, UMSOM’s researchers and clinicians helped elevate gambling addiction as a legitimate health concern deserving the same attention and treatment as other behavioral health conditions.
The center also has played an important role in expanding access to care. Through training programs and partnerships with treatment providers across Maryland, it has helped build a network of professionals equipped to recognize and address gambling-related problems. These efforts have reached communities throughout the state, including rural and underserved areas where behavioral health resources might be limited.
Education has been another key component of the school’s leadership. Faculty members have trained health professionals to screen for gambling-related harms, understand the relationship between gambling and mental health, and connect patients with appropriate treatment and support services.
This work has helped integrate gambling addiction into broader conversations about behavioral health and public health.
As legalized gambling has expanded across the country, the need for research-based approaches has become increasingly important. UMSOM’s experts have contributed to studies examining gambling behaviors, treatment interventions, prevention strategies, and the social impacts of gambling. Their work has informed policy discussions and helped communities better understand the challenges associated with expanded gambling access.
The impact of these efforts extends beyond Maryland. By advancing awareness, improving treatment, and supporting evidence-based policy and practice, UMSOM has helped shape a national conversation about behavioral addictions and recovery.
As America celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding as a nation in 2026, UMSOM’s work in the area gambling addiction serves as a reminder that many of society’s greatest health challenges begin with a willingness to better understand the human condition. Through research, education, and compassionate care, UMSOM has helped bring gambling addiction out of the shadows and into the realm of modern medicine.
That work continues through the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling and the many clinicians, researchers, and community partners dedicated to helping individuals and families find hope, recovery, and support. Their efforts reflect UMB's enduring commitment to improving health, strengthening communities, and advancing knowledge for the public good.