Since Kentucky legalized sports gambling on Sept. 7, calls to the commonwealth’s problem-gambling hotline have nearly tripled, the Northern Kentucky Tribune reported.

June Leffler, a problem-gambling counselor, said the state has only seven gambling counselors.

Dr. RonSonlyn Clark, president of the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling, recently told Spectrum News the state will use the money it has received from wagering to shore up not only Kentucky’s public pension deficit but also the problem gambling fund.

Kentucky residents have wagered at least $656 million since sports wagering launched in September, The Associated Press reported.

The KCPG was established 27 years ago to help promote prevention activities, awareness and educational pursuits for gamblers and individuals with disorder gambling issues around Kentucky.

Reach sports reporter Brooks Warren at [email protected] and follow him on X at @Broookksss.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky sports gambling: KY reportedly sees uptick in hotline calls