It might be unexpected to hear this news, especially because Virginia recently opened its first casino in July. However, WalletHub’s April 2022 report reveals that the state is positioned in the top half of the nation when it comes to problem gambling.
Virginia legalized sports betting in January 2021, which may have contributed to the state’s ranking as the 19th highest in terms of problem gambling.
The report by WalletHub incorporated metrics such as:
- Number of commercial and tribal casinos per person
- Lottery sales per capita
- The legality surrounding sports betting.
- Daily fantasy sports availability
- Horse race gambling
- The percentage of adults 18 and older with a gambling disorder in the state.
- And the number of Gamblers Anonymous meetings relative to the population size.
Problem gambling defined
According to the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling (VCPG), problem gambling has been referred to as “the silent addiction.”
The spectrum of gambling addiction ranges from a state of “No Problem” to one of “Severe Problems,” where the clinical criteria for a gambling disorder are satisfied.
Symptoms include:
- Preoccupation with gambling
- The desire to experience a greater thrill (known as the “rush”) necessitates increasing the frequency and amount of betting.
- Feelings of restlessness and irritability arise when one tries to cease gambling.
- “Chasing” losses
- Loss of control is evident when an individual continues to engage in gambling activities despite experiencing increasingly severe and detrimental outcomes.
The VCPG defines a gambling disorder as characterized by the “three C’s” – an intense desire for gambling, persistent engagement in the behavior, and a diminished ability to maintain control.
Symptoms of gambling disorder are also listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-5).
- Multiple attempts to gain control over, reduce, or cease gambling.
- Gambling to relieve distress
- Lying to conceal gambling
- Dependence on others for financial assistance to alleviate the financial repercussions of gambling
The DSM-5 classifies gambling disorders into mild, moderate, and severe categories based on the number of symptoms exhibited. WalletHub distinguishes between recreational or social gambling and problem gambling.
Above all, recreational gamblers possess the mental capacity to stop at any given moment and avert any potentially devastating financial setbacks.
Conversely, male individuals struggling with gambling addiction often accumulate debts ranging from $55,000 to $90,000, while their female counterparts typically face debts of approximately $15,000.
Insufficient financial resources to settle these debts can lead to additional debt and potentially even criminal activities.
Virginia is the first state to educate children at risk
Problem gambling is not exclusive to adults; it extends to younger individuals as well. As per the National Council on Problem Gambling, a substantial 60-80% of high school students have admitted to engaging in gambling with money within the last year.
According to the council, a percentage ranging from 4-6% of teenagers, and occasionally pre-teens, can be classified as having a gambling addiction.
Keith Whyte, the Executive Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, contributes the following statement:
Most American children rarely receive a targeted warning about the risks associated with gambling addiction.
According to Whyte, the risk of gambling addiction has increased by 30% between 2018 and 2021, but it is primarily concentrated among males aged 18-24.
Sports betting has become incredibly popular among young males, attracting their keen interest. Currently, thirty states along with the District of Columbia have already legalized sports betting, and lawmakers and governors in an additional five states have also granted approval for this form of gambling.
According to Whyte, children facing difficulties often go unnoticed or neglected.
Children also witness the abundance of TV gambling advertisements, yet the limited resources allocated to state gambling addiction services primarily focus on addressing issues related to adult problem gambling.
Earlier this year, Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin took a significant step towards tackling the issue of problem gambling among children by signing a bill into law. This legislation garnered nearly unanimous support from the state’s legislative body.
General assemblyman Sam Rasoul sponsored the bill, making it the inaugural state law in the nation to mandate the inclusion of gambling risk education in public school curricula.
The Virginia Board of Education is also mandated to create educational resources on gambling and ensure their distribution to all school divisions.
How to get help for problem gambling in Virginia
Annually, the United States generates $7.6 billion in federal gambling tax revenue, yet there is currently no designated federal agency accountable for addressing the issue of problem gambling. Consequently, no funds are allocated towards the vital areas of gambling addiction prevention and treatment.
Where help is available
- The contact number for the Virginia Problem Gambling Help Line is 1 (888) 532-3500.
- The organization known as Gamblers Anonymous (www.gamblersanonymous.org) provides a comprehensive 12-step program designed to assist individuals struggling with Problem Gambling.
- Gam-Anon is a self-help organization that provides support for spouses, family members, or close friends of individuals struggling with gambling addiction. You can find more information about Gam-Anon at www.gam-anon.org.
- GamTalk is an online peer support forum that is moderated 24/7. Visit www.gamtalk.org for assistance.
How Virginia’s problem gambling compares to other states
According to Debt.org, approximately 5 million American adults are estimated to be addicted to gambling. On the other hand, WalletHub ranks Mississippi as the leading state in terms of gambling addiction, with a percentage ranging from 1 to 3%.
Whyte warns that locating accurate data is extremely challenging, providing a justification for his statement.
The magnitude of this issue is something that both state governments and the gambling industry prefer to keep under wraps.
Legal gambling venues are not necessary for states to be included in WalletHub’s list of problem gambling. Texas, for instance, ranked closely behind Virginia at No. 20 despite its prohibition of casino gambling and sports betting.
Despite not having sports betting, both North Dakota and Massachusetts still managed to rank in the top half.
Nevada, the state known for Elvis impersonators, quickie divorces, and abundant slot machines, unsurprisingly claimed the top spot.
Utah, the neighboring state, ranked last as it does not have a lottery or any other forms of legal gambling.
Last year, approximately $120 billion was lost by gamblers in the US. As mentioned by Daniel Smith, a gambling addiction counselor from Missouri, sports betting can lead to significant losses, stating, “Losing all your money is a real possibility.”
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