Casinos Address Gambling Addictions

As new casinos appear all over our area, the state is finding ways to help people who can’t control their gambling.

The Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania has brochures at every casino.

They also require every betting parlor to train employees on how to recognize compulsive gamblers.

We spoke with a recovering gambling addict who did not want to be identified.

“Sam” says his marriage was in trouble and he would have eventually taken his own life if he had not called Gamblers Anonymous.

He lost nearly $100,000 gambling and has been recovering for nine years.

Jody Bechtold is a licensed clinical social worker at the University of Pittsburgh.

Her name is one of the referrals on the Compulsive Gambling Hotline.

She says people are starting to realize that help is available and she is getting two to three calls a week.

The Gamblers Anonymous Hotline is 1-888-GA-HELPS