VA Lottery & VCPG raise awareness about gambling problems
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(WFXR) — The Virginia Council on Problem Gambling (VCPG) is working with the Virginia Lottery to raise awareness during the month of March by helping people with gambling problems.
March is known as Problem Gambling Awareness Month.
“The Lottery is committed to raising awareness of problem gambling and how Virginians can seek help if they may need it,” said Virginia Lottery Acting Executive Director Kelly T. Gee. “Along with our partnership with the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling, we remind Virginians that if playing the lottery or participating in other forms of state-regulated gaming goes beyond simple fun and entertainment, there are support resources, including options to manage frequency of play.”
The VCPG states that gambling addictions not only impact the gambler but also loved ones. However, according to the organization’s website, there are resources that can help those who are addicted in Virginia.
There is a helpline available at 1-888-532-3500. The call is confidential and available 24/7 by phone, text, or chat.
“VCPG and the Virginia Lottery are deeply committed to providing resources and support for problem gamblers and their families,” said Dr. Carolyn Hawley, President of the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling. “Funding from the Lottery launched the helpline and continues to ensure that anyone can reach out, anytime, to request help or treatment for a gambling-related disorder. Confiding in a nonjudgmental listener through the helpline might well be the first step on the path to embrace life-changing behaviors that effectively deal with problem gambling.”
The Virginia Lottery provides a program that people with gambling problems can sign up for voluntarily. The Voluntary Exclusion Progam (VEP) will exclude people from participating in certain legalized gambling in Virginia.
Below is a list of games that are included in the VEP.
- Account-based Virginia Lottery games
- Online sports betting
- Charitable gaming (raffle, bingo, network bingo, and instant bingo)
- Better on horse racing (live racing, off-track betting, historical horse racing, and advanced deposit account wagering)
“As the Lottery’s role has expanded to include licensing and regulation of sports wagering and casinos in Virginia, we make sure problem gambling awareness plays a preeminent role,” said Gee. “Promoting responsible play is part of the fabric of the Virginia Lottery.”
