The Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling’s awards program began in 1996 at the first education and awareness conference. The awards program strives to honor individuals and organizations for leadership and education that contributes to recognition, prevention and treatment of addicted gambling. In 2000, the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling Board of Directors established four award categories:
- The Jim Cooke Leadership Award, named in honor of the first recipient, recognizes individual achievements
- The Government/Education Award
- The Industry Award
- The Media Award
In 2016, KYCPG added The Arch L. Gleason Industry Award for Responsible Gambling Leadership. The award is presented following jury-reviewed nominations.
Past Recipients
Jim Cooke Leadership Award
- Jim Cooke, 1999
- Curtis L. Barrett, Ph.D., 2000
- Jim Blackerby, 2001
- Edward Looney, 2002
- Caleb Cooley, 2003
- Dennis Boyd, 2004
- Kristine L. and Michael R. Stone, 2006
- Joe Daniel, 2008
- Chip Polston, 2012
- Rev. Janet Jacobs, 2013
- Mark Mason, 2015
- Gayle DiCesare, 2016
- Jerry Long, 2017
- Herbert E. (Bud) Newman, Psy.D., 2019
- Michael Townsend, 2022
- Indiana Gamblers Assistance Program, 2023
- RonSonLynClark, Psy.D., 2024
Media Award
- Lexington Herald-Leader, 2000
- Grace Schneider, Louisville Courier-Journal, 2003
- The Louisville Courier-Journal, 2005
- Brian Ridgway, Lamar Advertising of Lexington, 2008
- Jack Brammer, Lexington Herald-Leader, 2018
- Patricia McQueen, Lottery Insights Magazine, 2022
- June Leffler, Kentucky Educational Television, 2024
- Stu Johnson, WEKU radio, 2025
Government/Education Award
- The University of Kentucky, 1999
- Michael Townsend, 2000
- Murray State University/Kern Alexander, Ph.D., 2002
- The Honorable Jack L. Coleman, Jr., 2004
- The Honorable C.B. Embry, Jr., 2005
- Ed Monahan, 2011
- Marty Hammons, 2012
- Eastern Kentucky University College of Justice and Safety Professor Scott Hunt, 2016
- RiverValley Behavioral Health Crisis Line Specialists, 2022
- The Honorable Adam Koenig, 2023
- The Honorable Michael Meredith, 2024
- The Honorable Matthew Koch, 2025
Industry Award
- Churchill Downs, Inc., 1998
- The Kentucky Lottery Corporation, 1999
- Casino Aztar, 2000
- The Kentucky Lottery Corporation, 2003
- Caesars Indiana, 2004
- Keeneland Association, Inc. 2005
- Argosy Casino and Hotel, 2007
- Turfway Park, 2011
- Mark Mason, Hollywood Casino, 2013
- Keeneland Association, Inc., 2016
- Arch Gleason (posthumously), 2017
Arch L. Gleason Industry Award for Responsible Gambling Leadership
- Thomas Meeker, President and CEO (retired), Churchill Downs, Inc., 2017
- Alice D. Garland, Executive Director, North Carolina Education Lottery, 2018
- Chip Polston, Senior Vice President of Communications, Public Relations and Social
- Responsibility, Kentucky Lottery Corporation, 2020
- Gerald W. Beasley, Director of Human Resources and Compliance, Eldorado Resort
- Casino Shreveport, Louisiana, 2021
- Kate Carlson, Director of CSR and Compliance, Hoosier Lottery, 2025