However, they do paint a clearer picture of the situation on the ground in Pennsylvania. Those figures don’t tell us exactly how many more Pennsylvanians are now struggling with gambling addiction. Fortunately, the CCGP publishes detailed annual data on calls and intakes. Teasing the two factors apart is no easy task. However, a more positive component is increased responsible gambling messaging, leading to more people reaching out for help.
To some extent, it reflects a rise in gambling addiction rates. So, the increase in calls is a mixed bag. But does the increase in calls equate to how many more people have developed a problem? No, I think the real number is likely a fraction of that.” I think it’s likely that a part of that is increased awareness of the helpline and of services that are available.ĭo I think there are more problems? Yes, obviously. We’ve doubled our intake call volume from two years ago. But, the awareness piece is also something to consider. It’s trendy, it’s fun, and before long they develop issues with it. “There’s probably one aspect of this where there are people who are trying a new game out.
Two reasons for increased problem gambling callsĮrcole explained that regulated gambling expansion impacts call volume in two ways: Last year saw 2,621 gamblers receive help through the helpline, more than double the baseline of 1,100 or so in the years before Pennsylvania’s online casino launch. A large number of 1-800-GAMBLER calls result in hang-ups or are from people calling for other reasons.ĭespite the call volume declining in 2022, the number of calls for help – or “intakes,” as the CCGP calls them – has continued to rise. However, not all of these are people seeking help. However, Josh Ercole, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA (CCGP), told PlayUSA that a rise in calls isn’t entirely bad news.įrom 2019 to 2021, the total annual call volume in the state jumped from 11,011 to 17,380 before falling to 14,146 in 2022. Similar trends appear whenever a state launches new forms of gambling and is often framed as a crisis. Since the introduction of online casinos and sports betting to Pennsylvania, the number of 1-800-GAMBLER interactions resulting in the caller receiving help for problem gambling has more than doubled.
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