March 4-10 is the Problem Gambling Awareness Week in Pennsylvania, as the Departments of Health, Revenue and Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board work together to make sure that help will be available for citizens who are experiencing gambling addiction issues. William H. Ryan Jr, the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board calls on those who consider themselves as compulsive gamblers or those who are aware of their issues about control in gambling to make themselves recognize their problem and be ready to ask for professional counseling, as necessary. He stated that together with the casinos, as they operate with an approved program to provide assistance to problem gamblers, want the state to enjoy legal gaming minus the risk of affecting families and household budgets.
Todd Rucci, the Executive Director of Pennsylvania Lottery said that the organization is serious about the issues of compulsive gambling. He stated that lottery games are intended to be enjoyed as a form of entertainment. He said that they encourage gamers to play responsibly.

With the observance of Problem Gambling Awareness Week, there is a venue to raise awareness on the concern and they want to make sure that the 1% to 3% of people who have problems struggling to solve compulsive gambling will be informed on the possible treatment and the resources available to address the issue.

Assistance and referrals are made available by the concerned agencies for a broader scope of making people aware of the different problem gambling behaviors. There are 70 DOH approved problem gambling treatment service providers which include regular counseling service. This assistance of made available through the department’s 24-hour free Gambling Addiction hotline – 1-877-565-2112. Anyone who asks for assistance will be assured of confidentiality.

There is also a website available for additional information on problem gambling. This is at www.paproblemgambling.com.
Based on the statistics released by the Department of Health, there are over 16,000 residents of Pennsylvania who called the help line in the year 2010. The calls were about problems on different gambling forms that include horse racing, lottery, sports and Internet gambling, slots, and card games.

These calls were almost a split between the two genders and are from the age groups the cover teens and seniors. The reasons most frequently stated as the reasons for the call include family or marital problems, mental and financial issues. This means that the situation needs to be addressed strongly because it is becoming a serious concern.

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