For decades, Virginia played its cards close and limited gambling within its borders. But over the past five years, the state has rapidly expanded beyond the lottery, horse racing and charitable gambling.
Casinos are now raking in cash at interim facilities in Danville and Bristol, while construction nears completion on their permanent multi-sensory facilities designed specifically to attract bettors; a third temporary venue awaits its final home in Portsmouth. And, pending Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s signature, the state will see a widespread return of so-called skill games, where the skill players must master the ability to push a button after putting down their money.
No one discounts the fact that legal gambling generates hefty dollars to fund essential state missions. The Virginia Lottery alone contributed $867 million — 10% of the total K-12 school budget — to education in FY23.
But we can’t keep overlooking what gambling also costs us: the 2 to 4 million Americans with gambling addiction. Another potential 8 million are in the early stages of developing addiction, with limited channels for treatment. Among those with any addiction, gamblers have the highest suicide rates.
Simply put, more gambling opportunities put more Virginians at risk for developing gambling problems. National studies estimate its social cost at $14 billion, which includes spending on related legal costs, bankruptcy, health care — not to mention job loss.
As the number of gambling avenues increases exponentially, we need a similar uptick in dollars directed toward preventing and treating gambling disorders.
It shouldn’t be surprising that Problem Gambling Awareness Month comes in tandem with the bracket-busting days of March Madness, the NCAA’s high-profile basketball tournament. In 2023, wagering on the NCAA Tournament — which trails only the Super Bowl in total sports betting — reached $15.5 billion.
This awareness month also ties into changing demographics in Virginia, as well as the nation, with the legalization of online sports betting. In the past, people might have been content to try their luck at the office pool, but digital options now serve up nonstop betting on everything from the score in a single quarter of a women’s basketball game to how many three-pointers a men’s team sinks.
Last year, the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling handled 10,608 helpline calls, a 973% increase since 2019. For those callers seeking support, more than a third were connected directly to peer-recovery specialists who answered questions, provided support, and outlined resources and — most importantly — how to access them.
Those numbers tell us that we need to do a better job of helping to prevent people from becoming problem gamblers. Today, the fastest-growing segment of gamblers is young men.
It’s easy to trace a line from what many consider to be a modern part of growing up, which is playing video games. Games from Candy Crush to Minecraft invite players with free tokens to use for everything from additional lives to special shields. When the free tokens run out, gamers can wait for that cache to reload or spend money to immediately keep playing.
Gambling is a behavioral addiction, but it’s still an addiction. We might not think that habit can start with a kid with a connected device and credit card. However, the earlier these behaviors begin, the more likely people are to develop problem behaviors.
We even see these behaviors take root early on, as many individuals consider gambling to be a lesser harm. Parents might think twice about taking their children to a bar, while putting money at stake with them by filling out a tournament bracket or predicting Oscar winners is more socially accepted. The legal age limit in Virginia for drinking is 21, but legal Lottery playing starts at age 18.
As they become adults, they might start withdrawing from group activities and struggle to pay bills, leading to asking others to borrow money. The early signs can be subtle.
Virginia is starting to raise attention to gambling among other addictions but must follow with straightforward actions. We’re among the first states to call for some type of gambling education in our schools, although that remains an unfunded mandate. We are also now providing treatment and recovery support to those in need but we can’t wait that long to reach out a helping hand.
We must involve the larger community, bringing in healthcare providers alongside mental health providers and our religious organizations, for example. They need to know what the treatment options are. They need to be educated so they can then educate. They need to know which financial consultants can help problem gamblers rebuild their fiscal lives.
While they might set limits, people with addictions easily turn around and skirt those same guardrails. In 2021, Virginia took a big step by allowing residents to self-exclude from gambling. In other words, people with recognized challenges can proactively ban themselves from gambling venues. If they later present their IDs at a horse track or casino, they face tough consequences, including trespassing charges.
Fearing they lack the self-control to stay away, more than 1,000 people have asked the state to take on that responsibility — and those penalties are deterring problem gamblers and helping to prevent relapses. How will Virginia identify these same individuals from playing skill games in every corner of the Commonwealth? Do we expect every restaurant or market to check IDs both for a person’s legitimate gambling age or if they are self-excluded from touching those machines?
When approached responsibly, gambling can be a fun pastime for many individuals. They might test their skills and luck by buying an occasional lottery ticket or wagering at the horse track. They walk in knowing exactly how much they’re willing to spend — and lose without harm.
But too many people can’t limit their gambling. With significant new sources of revenue coming into Virginia directly from gambling, one of our safest bets would be to invest more money into services and resources to help treat and prevent the numbers of problem gamblers from continuing to grow.
Carolyn E. Hawley, Ph.D., CRC, is president of the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling.