How the PA Drug and Alcohol Programs Meet iGaming Expectations

The DDAP's activities have enabled gamblers to get assistance from various sources, thus making online gambling as safe as it gets. 

The DDAP gets more money to help gamblers as the casino sector expands. What goods and services does DDAP offer? And what happens to the received funds? 

Reaching Out to Pennsylvania's DDAP 

DDAP cannot assist a person with gambling issues if they do not have a quick and straightforward means to get counseling. As a result, promoting, facilitating, and encouraging access to the 1-800-Gambler hotline is one of DDAP's most significant duties. 

The Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania has a contract with DDAP, which manages the hotline. DDAP may be reached directly by gamblers at 717-783-8200. The volume of calls to the hotline has increased, much like the figures for self-exclusion. 

By the end of this year, DDAP is expected to handle 2,559 calls, up from 1,706 in August 2022. The amount will be the highest in any particular year. 

With the launch of sports betting and online casinos in 2019, Pennsylvania has experienced tremendous growth. 18 PA online casinos and 14 PA online sportsbooks are available in the state. Additionally, Pennsylvania's temporarily land-based casino shut down due to the COVID-19 epidemic increased interest in online gaming. This was a factor in the opening of gambling sites. New online casino PA 2022 are reliable sites that you can trust.

Less than 3% of all calls about problem gambling between the end of 2018 and the start of 2020 came from online casinos. iGaming accounted for 20% of problem gambling calls in fiscal 2020–2021, surpassing calls from unidentified casinos (19%) and slot machines (16%) to take the top spot. 

What the DDAP Has to Offer

Although the DDAP tackles every facet of problem gambling, money and attention are focused primarily on therapy. 

Most gamblers who develop a gambling problem and need therapy, seek outpatient counseling services. DDAP has signed a contract with 62 counselors from 31 counties around the state. This is the counselor’s growth since 2018: 

• 23 (2018)

• 36 (2019)

• 58 (2020)

• 54 (2021)

• 62 (2022)

Counselors perform an assessment when gamblers sign up for the DDAP program to evaluate the frequency and length of therapy needed. 

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, DDAP has started giving patients access to online health sessions that weren't previously available. DDAP kept offering these session consultations even after the COVID restrictions were abolished. 

Telehealth alternatives have been a welcome addition for DDAP and its patients, according to DDAP Secretary Jennifer Smith. The people who will benefit most from it are single parents, those without access to dependable transportation, and people with impairments. 

Where Does the Money for DDAP Originate From? 

Various acts allow DDAP to be funded by the state's gambling industry. Following is a passage from the DDAP's Annual Report on Problem Gambling for Fiscal Year 2020–2021: 

The Compulsive and Problem Gambling Treatment Fund (CPGT) was created by Act 71 of 2004 from The Pennsylvania Racehorse Development and Gaming Act as an annual financial transfer from the State Gaming Fund to DDAP. Act 1 of 2010 mandates a yearly payment of $2,000,000 or, in the event of a tie, an amount equal to.002 times the aggregate gross terminal income of all presently operating licensed gaming firms. A new category of small casino licenses, interactive gambling, fantasy sports, Pennsylvania sports betting, truck stop gaming terminals, and airport gaming terminals was formed by Act 42 of 2017. 

Over the years, DDAP has gotten more than $24 million in support. Through outreach and education initiatives, it offers rehabilitation, keeps the 1-800-Gambler hotline operational, and raises public awareness of problem gambling. 

The funds received by DDAP are broken out by fiscal year as follows: 

• The total for 2017 and 2018 was $4.6 million. 

• The total for 2018 and 2019 was $4.4 million.

• The total for 2019 and 2020 was $4.4 million.

• The total for 2020 and 2021 was $4.3 million.

Although the report for FY 2021/2022 has not yet been made public, Secretary Smith stated that the 2020-2021 DDAP got "just shy of $7 million for treatment and prevention." 

There is a breakdown of how the funds were used in each DDAP report. The report for the upcoming fiscal year, 2020-2021, states that: 

• County governments in Pennsylvania received 68% of the cash. 

• 14% of the money was used to find therapists and counselors.

• 18% went to oversee and maintain the program. 

What the DDAP Funds to Prevent PA Gambling Problems

Presentations on problem gambling are encouraged by DDAP to reach out to vulnerable groups, including seniors and students. 

Examples of well-liked presentations include the following: 

• The documentary "Gambling Away the Golden Years" examines senior adults who develop gambling addictions after retiring. 

• “Kids Don’t Gamble… Wanna Bet?” promotes critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in students in grades three through eight and aims to prevent underage gaming. 

• The purpose of the question-and-answer game “Know Limits” is a program for middle and high school students to improve participation while educating kids about the risks associated with gambling and other hazardous activities. 

• “Too Much To Lose” is a course intended for elementary through high school students, it covers various topics, including definitions of gambling, addiction, and risk-taking, stages of gambling, refusal skills, harmful effects of gambling, identifying problem gambling, coping mechanisms, and getting help for addiction disorders. 

During the fiscal year 2020–2021, Philadelphia County got $643,126. Other significant Pennsylvania counties that got DDAP help are: 

• Lebanon: $73,579

• Erie: $363,150

• Delaware: $155,561

• Lancaster: $174,537

• Bucks: $143,743

Each county submits a funding request to DDAP explaining its steps to combat problem gambling. This is how DDAP distributes the funds. 

The Evolution of DDAP's Effects on the 1-800-Gambler Hotline 

To better reach and assist more individuals, DDAP has developed over time. 

The use of text and discussion was one of these methods. Gamblers who think they need help should contact the National Council on Problem Gambling by texting 800-522-4700 or calling them at their toll-free number. Using either strategy while calling 1-800-Gambler is equally successful. 

To answer a need, DDAP created text and chat capabilities as additional platforms for communicating with gamblers. 

According to Smith, “people who are prepared to seek treatment for their addiction or problem gambling do so out of humiliation. The happier they are because it is less personal, the less often they have to go to someone to explain what they've done and talk poorly of themselves.”

The Council for Compulsive Gambling received 105 chat queries and 77 SMS messages in 2019. The number has increased since that time. 

• There were 172 admissions, 241 chats, and 159 SMS in 2020. 

• There were 241 admissions, 477 chats, and 223 SMS in 2021. 

The hotline kept track of 219 admissions, 255 messages, and 421 interactions through September 2022. That is on schedule with 340 texts, 561 discussions, and 292 intakes. 

According to Josh Ercole, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania, the rise in users shows the need for alternatives to text and chat. 

“Even though we don't have specific information on how people feel about [text and chat choices], we think that statistics show [that such alternatives are necessary]. We've grown consistently over the past five years”, Ercole said. “Whether using it to contact the hotline is more straightforward or convenient, we think it is essential to have this channel accessible as a resource. The statement reads, "Meeting people where they are is vital."