Rising Concerns: Kentucky Witnesses Surge in Calls to Problem Gambling Helpline

With the recent legalization of sports betting in Kentucky, calls to the state's helpline for problem gamblers have increased, raising concerns about the lack of available treatment options. The funding allocation delay until 2024 presents difficulties and highlights how urgent it is to address gambling addiction in a timely manner given the state's changing regulatory environment.

The Gambling Surge in Kentucky Raises Concerns About a Counselor Shortage

Kentucky legalized and, more importantly, launched sports gambling on September 7 (retail) and September 28 (online), allowing its citizens to finally place a wager without having to cross state lines or, worse, consider illegal options.

Notwithstanding all of the benefits of regulation, there have been some issues that need to be addressed, primarily with regard to the number of calls made to hotlines for problem gambling.

According to June Leffler of KET's Kentucky Edition, there have been three times as many of these communications. Leffler checked the numbers with a number of state-affiliated problem-gambling counselors. One Among the people interviewed is River Valley Behavioral Health's Lionel Phelps in Owensboro.

It appears that the scarcity of available treatment options is more concerning than the increase in calls. Kentucky is home to 4.5 million people, but the state only has seven licensed gambling counselors. There will be a lot of issues if this is allowed to go on. There are various reasons why counselors sound the alarm.

Early Interventions for Gambling Addiction Are Hampered by Locked Funding

It would be more difficult to provide early interventions and treatment due to a lack of funding, with the $1.2 million that was meant to be received to address problem gambling put on hold until 2024.

Leffler has also spoken with Ronsolyn Clark of Boulware Mission, who explains that, similar to an addiction to drugs or alcohol, gambling addiction is a disorder that interferes with dopamine release in the brain, often prompting people to spend recklessly in order to experience dopamine release. 

A serious form of addiction, gambling disorders are estimated to affect 1% of the population in the United States. This equates to three million people at the absolute least. However, an additional 2-3% report having a gambling problem, suggesting a problem with self-control.

In the US, regulated gambling is relatively new, at least not on the scale they have seen recently. Support for problem gamblers has always been a part of new programs aimed at reducing gambling overall in the United States. In order to assist its most vulnerable customers, Ohio has been setting the standard and even started a statewide self-exclusion program.

But there have been regressions in other places. Washington, D.C. has decided to cut back on funding for the care of vulnerable people.