Pennsylvania offers treatment to those who suffer from problem gambling habits. The state’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has reported that gamblers are reducing the frequency at which they are betting. The reduction of gambling rate is up 8% from the last fiscal year after treatment.
The state uses resources from the Compulsive and Problem Gambling Treatment Fund (CPGT) to treat problem-gambling individuals through outpatient counseling.
Problem gamblers cut down habits following treatment in Pennsylvania
A Pennsylvania gambler experiencing issues is able to get treatment provided by the state. The CPGT fund, which the state contributed $8.3 million to in FY 2022/2023, is used to help Pennsylvanians overcome their problem gambling.
According to DDAP’s Compulsive and Problem Gambling Annual Report, those who are discharged from treatment have displayed the following gambling characteristics last FY:
- No longer gambling: 45%
- Reduced gambling: 13%
- Do not know: 39%
- Same: 2%
- Increased: 1%
A total of 58% of patients who entered treatment are either no longer gambling or have reduced their activity. That total is up 8% from FY 2021/2022, when DDAP reported the following statistics:
- No longer gambling: 40%
- Reduced gambling: 10%
- Do not know: 41%
- Same: 9%
- Increased: 0%
It is a great sign that more gamblers who admitted to having a problem have either cut it out altogether or reduced the frequency.
A closer look at Pennsylvania DDAP treatment numbers
According to the report, DDAP has entered into contracts with 50 agencies to provide responsible gambling in Pennsylvania treatment services. Here are what the details of treatment entail:
“DDAP annually monitors contracted gambling treatment providers for compliance with the provisions in the PA Gambling Treatment Services Manual. The monitoring process includes onsite or virtual visits depending on the number of clients each provider served in the previous fiscal year.”
The state admitted 225 patients, with 192 getting discharged, the most over the previous two fiscal years. Here is an age breakdown of admissions:
- 18-24: 7%
- 25-34: 29%
- 35-44: 23%
- 45-54: 15%
- 55-64: 15%
- 65+: 11%
In what might be a surprise, a total of 80 men were treated for card games, the most of any method of problem gambling. Sports betting (73) and slots (72) followed close behind for men.
Slots were reported as the highest method of problem gambling for women, as 46 were treated. Lottery (32) and internet gambling (24) finished as the second and third methods of gambling for women.
DDAP reported more people finishing treatment, too. The report said that 46% of patients completed treatment last fiscal year, compared to just 40% in FY 2021/2022.
Hopefully those numbers keep increasing this fiscal year, as the state remains steadfast in helping those battle problem gambling.
