CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — As football season begins, everyone is getting excited for the games, gatherings, and of course gambling.
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With many sports, especially football, gambling can be fun for some, but for others it can become a problem, even an obsession.
According to a press release from First Choice Services, NFL is the most popular sport for betting. The press release continues explaining, that according to the National Council on Problem Gambling, one percent of the population experiences a gambling addiction, and another two percent to three percent are on the spectrum of problem gambling.
Since 2018, sports betting in West Virginia has been legal, with many residents needing help for this addiction. Sports betting is also more convenient now since you can gamble right on your smartphone.
“Sports betting has been around for a long time, going back to, you know, people who used to bet with bookies, and maybe they still do, but the big difference now is that it is available on your mobile device, and of course everyone is carrying around a mobile device, so essentially a little machine to place bets on,” said Sheila Moran, Director of Marketing and Communication for First Choice Services.
If gambling does start to become a problem for an individual, Moran also shared tips on how to control gambling urges when it does start to get out of control.
“If you’re gambling online, most mobile apps have safer gambling options, where you can set limits on time and money” said Moran. “We’re fortunate here in West Virginia to have a great program. Our 1-800-GAMBLER program is available 24 hours a day. You can call and get a real human who will answer the phone and talk you through what’s going on, and see what options are available in your area.”
Moran continued by sharing, “We have free private counseling, and that’s in person or telehealth. We have support groups through the state, we have events, we have retreats, which are twice a year, were getting ready to have one here in October, where we invite people who’ve called us to come together for support, we have self-exclusion information, so if you want to ban yourself from the casinos, or you want software to stop your phone or computer from accessing gambling sites, we can get you that for free and we have a lot of other options.”
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For more information and resources, Moran said they are always available at First Choice Services, 24 hours a day with their 1-800-GAMBLER hotline, where you can call, chat, or text anytime.
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