Beware of problem gambling

Gambling in one form or another has been around throughout human history, as have problems associated with it.

Not only is it known to cause serious financial problems, it can lead some people into an obsession that hurts their productivity and ability to relate to loved ones.

The problem has always deserved attention, but never more so than today. It used to be that folks had to know the right people in their neighborhood to bet on a sporting event. Legal gambling required a trip to a track or betting parlor, or stopping at a store for lottery tickets. For most of us, going to a casino required traveling a significant distance.

Today casinos are sprouting all over the place. The recent opening of Hollywood Casino Morgantown brings that form of gambling even closer to many people in our region. That’s on top of the casinos in Valley Forge, Bensalem and Philadelphia, to name just a few.

Betting on sports is legal, and gambling apps make it possible to play games and place wagers without leaving your room. And many people are addicted to fantasy sports, another form of gambling.

Gambling promoters have upped the ante by delivering a barrage of advertising aimed at luring more people to play.

The accessibility and popularity of gambling has produced significant revenue for the state and provided a fun diversion for many, but the situation is disastrous for people prone to addiction.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board devotes each March to reminding people about the risk of problem gambling and pointing to places where they can receive help.

“While most Pennsylvanians can gamble responsibly, we must not forget about the 2%-4% of the population that will develop a gambling disorder within their lifetime,” PGCB Executive Director Kevin O’Toole said in announcing this year’s Problem Gambling Awareness Month observanc

The PGCB is joined in this effort by the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the Pennsylvania Lottery, the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania and other organizations.

The goal is to educate Pennsylvanians about the effects of gambling disorders, raise awareness of tools necessary to identify this addiction and to recognize available services that help minimize the consequences of gambling disorders.

Among the resources available is the problem gambling hotline at 1-800-GAMBLER (1800-426-2537), where trained specialists direct callers to treatment options.

O’Toole said the PGCB has worked on expanding and enhancing tools for problem gambling.

“Pennsylvania’s self-exclusion programs for casinos, internet gaming and video gaming terminals have aided thousands of individuals who, by enrolling in one or more of the programs, have effectively banned themselves from engaging in legalized gambling activities,” O’Toole said. “In fact, since 2006, enrollments have collectively eclipsed 20,000 in the Board’s self-exclusion programs.”

Other resources include:

• www.ResponsiblePlay. pa.gov, a website dedicated to problem gambling, which provides information and links to assist people in identifying a potential gambling problem and finding help;

• PlayPause, which allows for individuals to ban themselves from online iGaming sites that participate in the program.

• Options for participants to limit their online play or spend in fantasy contests, online casino games, online poker, and/ or online sports wagering.

What’s most important is to treat this as the serious problem it is, just like other forms of addiction such as substance abuse.

Elizabeth Lanza, director of the PGCB’s Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling, put it well in the agency’s announcement:

“It is vital that we bring awareness to the fact that problem gambling is a disorder that is both preventable and treatable. Gambling disorder is not a sign of weakness or failure, it is an addiction and it should be treated as such.”