Problem Gamblers in Virginia Embracing Regulated Gaming Initiatives
A senior official focusing on promoting responsible gambling practices in Virginia notes that the state's offerings are effectively resonating with people who struggle to control their gambling habits.
Dr. Carolyn Hawley, the executive director of the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling and a member of the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Advisory Committee which collaborates with state legislators on developing effective practices for gambling prevention and treatment, shares this perspective.
Additionally, she heads the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, an organization comprised of stakeholders dedicated to enhancing treatment and recovery services for individuals needing assistance to manage their habits. Hawley points out that Virginia's rate of players seeking help significantly exceeds the national average.
Enrollment Progress
Since 2018, Virginia lawmakers have permitted slot-like historical horse racing machines, as well as commercial casinos featuring slot machines, live-dealer table games, and sports betting.
Testifying before a joint subcommittee considering the establishment of a state gaming commission, Hawley discussed the significant increase in calls to the problem gambling hotline, 1-888-532-3500, over the past few years.
Hawley noted a nearly 1,000% rise in calls to the hotline since 2019. She explained that the individuals answering these calls have been adept at aiding those in need with useful resources.
Hawley, with a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Wisconsin and a Ph.D. in Health Related Sciences and Rehabilitation Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University, informed the committee that over half of the callers end up receiving treatment from the state's resources, a rate that experts say is below 10% nationwide.
Hawley reported that the Virginia Partnership for Gaming & Health received 166 referrals in the first quarter of 2024.
The Virginia Council on Problem Gambling administers the state's hotline and conducts assessments to determine the most appropriate help for callers. The Virginia Partnership for Gaming & Health accepts referrals from the council and offers therapeutic support to these individuals.
Concerning Statistics
Although Hawley praises the state's problem gambling resources, some committee lawmakers have shown concern about the steep surge in gamblers seeking help, given that Virginia's commercial gaming industry is still in its infancy, with three permanent casino resorts yet to open.
"It's quite alarming," said state Del. Paul Krizek (D-Alexandria) about the rise in self-help gambling calls.
Krizek advocates for preventing cities from holding subsequent referendums on the gaming issue if local voters reject a casino ballot question. He is also opposed to skill games, which have been shut down since last fall due to a Virginia Supreme Court ruling that invalidated a lower court's injunction allowing the games to continue operating while a state case is being resolved.
Last month, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) vetoed legislation that would have created a regulatory framework for the slot-like games. Youngkin insisted that he would only sign a skill game bill that included consumer protections and specified buffer zones around churches and schools where the machines could not operate.
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