Mike Sciandra's year-long campaign resulted in 20 official PGAM proclamations across Nebraska, demonstrating the power of lived experience in advocacy.
Apr 10, 2026 · 10 min read
Mike Sciandra's strategic advocacy campaign has delivered unprecedented results for problem gambling awareness in Nebraska. The Executive Director of the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling secured 20 official Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM) proclamations across the state, representing what he describes as reaching "50% of the population of the state" beyond major metropolitan areas.
The achievement marks a significant escalation from previous efforts, where Sciandra spent nearly five years working to secure a single gubernatorial proclamation for Nebraska. His expanded approach in 2026 demonstrates how sustained, relationship-based advocacy can amplify awareness beyond traditional channels.
Sciandra's success stemmed from meticulous preparation that began in late 2025, well ahead of March's Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Unlike previous years focused primarily on state-level recognition, he implemented a comprehensive strategy targeting municipalities across Nebraska.
"We really didn't have any sort of concerted effort prior to this year. This year, I really ramped it up a notch and went statewide with my ask."
— Mike Sciandra, Executive Director, Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling
The approach required balancing traditional "top down" advocacy with grassroots "bottom up" engagement. Sciandra's calendar included meetings with the governor alongside presentations at small-town council meetings, ensuring comprehensive coverage across urban and rural communities.
Most proclamation requests require submission 30 to 60 days in advance, making early planning essential. Sciandra recommends advocates begin preparations in December and January to avoid last-minute pressures in February and March.
Advocacy Planning Timeline
Begin proclamation preparations in December and January to avoid last-minute pressures. Most proclamation requests require 30 to 60 days advance submission, making early strategic planning essential for successful awareness campaigns.
20
Official proclamations secured across Nebraska
50%
Of Nebraska's population reached beyond major metros
5
Years previously spent securing single gubernatorial proclamation
30-60
Days advance notice required for most proclamation requests
9
Age when Mike Sciandra first began gambling
25
Years Mike struggled with gambling behavior
Sciandra's credibility in these conversations stems from personal experience with gambling addiction. He began gambling at age nine, growing up in what he describes as a family environment marked by "addiction, incarcerations, and chaos in general." After struggling for 25 years with gambling behavior, he reached what he calls his "rock bottom."
"I hit what you could call my rock bottom. But I always joke that I never hit rock bottom because I always carried a shovel with me."
— Mike Sciandra
Free treatment through the Nebraska Gamblers Assistance Program sparked Sciandra's transition from patient to advocate. After several years working in treatment services, he assumed the Executive Director role at the Nebraska Council in March 2025.
"I wanted others to never feel the same way that I did – living with stigma and without hope for so long."
— Mike Sciandra
This personal foundation proves particularly valuable when addressing skepticism from municipal officials unfamiliar with problem gambling services.
Nebraska Gamblers Assistance Program
Free treatment through the Nebraska Gamblers Assistance Program provides crucial support for problem gambling recovery. The program helped transform Sciandra from patient to advocate, demonstrating the potential for lived experience to drive meaningful change in problem gambling awareness.
Municipal leaders frequently question whether advocacy organizations oppose gambling entirely, particularly in communities with existing gaming operations. Sciandra developed a clear response framework addressing these concerns.
"Most of the questions I get are around neutrality and if we're anti-gambling. I'm working with a lot of communities that have legal gambling options within them. A lot of time, they're questioning whether I'm coming in just to try to shut them down."
— Mike Sciandra
His explanation emphasizes the National Council on Problem Gambling's neutral stance on legalized gambling while focusing advocacy efforts on harm reduction.
"I'm not anti-gambling, I'm anti-gambling related harm. That usually quells any sort of concerns they might have."
— Mike Sciandra
Neutrality Framework
The National Council on Problem Gambling maintains a neutral stance on legalized gambling while focusing advocacy efforts on harm reduction. This positioning helps navigate potential resistance from gaming industry stakeholders and enables collaborative approaches in jurisdictions with established gaming operations.
Nebraska's geography creates particular challenges for awareness efforts, with resources often concentrated in Lincoln and Omaha. Sciandra's campaign specifically targeted smaller communities that typically receive limited attention regarding problem gambling services.
"Nebraska is the type of state where people can get very focused on Lincoln and Omaha. I want to make sure the rest of Nebraska is receiving the same attention as those major cities. Everybody deserves to have this information."
— Mike Sciandra
For many rural communities, Sciandra's presentations represent their first formal introduction to problem gambling resources. He regularly travels to city council meetings, using proclamation requests as opportunities to discuss available treatment services.
"I grew up in a small town myself, and never in a thousand years did I realize that there were treatment services out there. Just hearing about those resources would have been something that could have helped me sooner."
— Mike Sciandra
City council members contact Sciandra one to two times weekly with questions about proclamation purposes, conversations he welcomes as additional awareness opportunities.
Sciandra views proclamations as community celebration rather than purely administrative recognition. The approach acknowledges local investment in addressing problem gambling while creating positive associations with awareness efforts.
Building sustainable awareness requires engaging multiple stakeholder groups including treatment professionals, peer support networks, gaming operators, and recovery communities. Each group's participation strengthens overall advocacy effectiveness.
"It truly comes down to building relationships. At the end of the day, you're not going to put out every fire. You're not going to be able to solve every problem overnight, nor do I believe that I'm ever going to solve every concern or fix everything."
— Mike Sciandra
The emphasis on celebration helps counter stigma surrounding gambling addiction discussions. Rather than focusing exclusively on negative consequences, Sciandra highlights community willingness to address problems constructively.
When questioned about next steps beyond awareness campaigns, Sciandra emphasizes the fundamental relationship between recognition and intervention capability.
"You can't fix an issue that people are not aware of."
— Mike Sciandra
This perspective underlies his continued expansion plans, with goals to reach every municipality in Nebraska ahead of PGAM 2027. The current year's success provides a foundation for deeper community relationships extending beyond annual awareness campaigns.
For organizations considering similar campaigns, Sciandra recommends starting with achievable goals rather than attempting comprehensive coverage immediately. Strategic planning and relationship building prove more valuable than rushed outreach efforts.
"If it's not your full-time role or you're not comfortable with doing this level of advocacy, that's okay. Do what you're comfortable with doing. But if you break it up and you're strategic about what you're doing, even making one new connection a week or one new connection a month, or whatever that might look like, it matters."
— Mike Sciandra
Using sample language from previous NCPG PGAM toolkits provides starting points for proclamation requests, with minor customization based on local circumstances. The process varies depending on municipality size, requiring flexible approaches for different community structures.
| Timeline Phase | Action Items | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| December-January | Begin proclamation preparations | Most requests require 30-60 days advance notice |
| February-March | Submit requests and follow up | Use NCPG PGAM toolkit sample language |
| Post-Submission | Address neutrality questions | Emphasize harm reduction vs. anti-gambling stance |
| Ongoing | Build community relationships | Focus on celebration and recognition approach |
Start Early Planning
Begin preparations in December and January, well ahead of March Problem Gambling Awareness Month
Use Sample Language
Utilize previous NCPG PGAM toolkit templates with minor customization for local circumstances
Address Neutrality Concerns
Prepare clear responses about harm reduction focus rather than anti-gambling positioning
Build Strategic Relationships
Target one new connection weekly or monthly for sustainable advocacy growth
Emphasize Community Celebration
Frame proclamations as recognition of local investment in addressing community challenges
Sciandra's 20-proclamation achievement demonstrates how individual advocacy can create measurable impact across entire jurisdictions. His approach balances ambitious goals with practical implementation, creating sustainable momentum for ongoing awareness efforts.
The celebration aspect proves particularly important for maintaining positive community engagement. Local officials appreciate recognition for addressing community challenges, creating foundation for continued collaboration beyond formal proclamation processes.
"People like to celebrate their local communities, and I think that's something to consider when we're going after these cities. As far as proclamations go, people like celebrating the work that they're doing in their communities. They like it when people from outside of their community come in and recognize that too."
— Mike Sciandra
Sciandra's 20-proclamation achievement demonstrates how individual advocates with lived experience can drive systemic change through sustained relationship building, creating a replicable model for expanding awareness beyond metropolitan areas.
Sciandra's Nebraska campaign offers a replicable model for expanding problem gambling awareness beyond traditional metropolitan focus areas. The combination of personal credibility, strategic timing, and community-focused messaging creates frameworks other jurisdictions could adapt.
The emphasis on neutrality and harm reduction rather than prohibition helps navigate potential resistance from gaming industry stakeholders while maintaining advocacy effectiveness. This positioning proves particularly valuable in jurisdictions with established gaming operations requiring collaborative rather than adversarial approaches.
Most significantly, the campaign demonstrates how individual advocates with lived experience can drive systemic change through sustained relationship building. While organizational support enhances capacity, the fundamental work relies on personal connections and community trust – resources available to advocates regardless of institutional backing.
Sciandra implemented a comprehensive strategy beginning in late 2025, targeting municipalities across Nebraska with early planning and relationship-based advocacy. He balanced top-down and grassroots engagement, meeting with governors and small-town council members alike.
Municipal leaders frequently question whether advocacy organizations oppose gambling entirely, particularly in communities with existing gaming operations. Sciandra addresses this by explaining his focus on harm reduction rather than anti-gambling positioning.
Resources are often concentrated in Lincoln and Omaha, leaving smaller communities with limited attention regarding problem gambling services. Many rural areas receive their first formal introduction to treatment resources through these proclamation presentations.
Start with achievable goals rather than attempting comprehensive coverage immediately. Strategic planning and relationship building prove more valuable than rushed outreach, with even one new connection per week or month making a meaningful difference.
Proclamations create positive associations with awareness efforts by celebrating community willingness to address problems constructively. Rather than focusing exclusively on negative consequences, they highlight local investment in solutions.
According to NCPG.
Written by
Olga SvichkarFounder & Content Director
Olga founded We–Right™ Factory in 2012 and has been building iGaming content systems ever since. She oversees editorial strategy, quality standards, and multilingual content operations across 29+ markets. On iGamingWriter.blog, Olga writes about content architecture, team workflows, and what it actually takes to produce compliant iGaming copy at scale.
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