My name is Brian Pempus , and I'm a journalist covering gambling-related harm. I’m seeking financial support to continue my independent journalism at GamblingHarm.org.

In a little over a year, GamblingHarm.org has grown into a reputable and discoverable source of gambling journalism. It currently has a monthly readership of about 10,000 people. My journalism often appears near the top of Google News as the only harm-focused perspective on gambling-related news topics.

Nearly 20 years ago, I started off my career as a poker industry journalist at Card Player Magazine in Las Vegas. I've held several other content roles in the gambling-affiliated journalism and media space. More recently, I was the managing editor of betting at Forbes.

After Forbes, I began work on my independent publication, GamblingHarm.org, to raise awareness of gambling harm and consumer protection. My hope is that my journalism helps people.

Why did I change my mind and decide to cover the industry critically?

I wouldn’t say I’ve had a complete change of heart.

I've long held strong skepticism of the commercial gambling industry's purported benefits, yet my livelihood involved covering gambling for industry-friendly publications. However, one thing about gambling journalism is that the truth about the industry has a way of bubbling to the surface.

I often covered the industry critically over the years, but not until now in the way I always wanted. With GamblingHarm.org, I write about gambling news with a clear and committed focus on public health and consumer protection.

I've personally known and interviewed many people over the years who have experienced problem gambling. On top of these anecdotal experiences, the empirical evidence I've learned and written about from study after study became overwhelming.

My hope is that my work and experience can be a catalyst for positive change and help prevent more severe gambling issues in the U.S. and beyond.

Please consider supporting my project, GamblingHarm.org.