Virginia to Expand Problem Gambling Advisory Committee Amid Spike in Harm

Virginia authorities are considering upping the ante on the problem gambling advisory committee amid rising concerns about the state’s gambling harm rates. Experts emphasized that problem gambling is associated with high suicide rates, making it an especially important harm to address.

Virginia’s Problem Gambling Grievances Are Serious

Virginia authorities and health experts are wary of the effect of the state’s expanding gaming industry on the population. The Old Dominion’s gaming options have been growing, with several new casinos opening and skill games appearing in more and more convenience stores. To top it all off, gambling apps are becoming very popular, vastly increasing the accessibility of gambling.

Carolyn Hawley from the Virginia Commonwealth University said that patterns suggest what she called an “explosion of problem gambling.” Speaking to Radio IQ, she linked the spike in gambling harm to the rapid increase in availability of gambling products.

Hawley emphasized that statistics highlight a rapid increase in helpline calls. While this means that the helpline has greater visibility, it also implies an increase in problem players. To make matters worse, many of the helpline calls come from younger players, Hawley said.   

If you look at our state’s problem gambling helpline calls, they’ve risen dramatically in recent years, and those who are reaching out are also increasingly younger populations.

Carolyn Hawley

Expanding the Problem Gambling Committee Is the Priority of a New Bill

As a result of the increasing problem gambling rates, Virginia lawmakers are eyeing an expansion of the state’s problem gambling advisory committee. A new bill authored by Paul Krizek, a Fairfax Democrat, would add new positions to the committee.

According to Radio IQ, these include a recovery specialist and a law enforcement expert. In a statement, Krizek emphasized that problem gambling is the addiction that is most associated with suicides.

No other addiction has as many suicides as problem gambling does. It is number one, suicide addiction. So, it is very important that we have as strong a treatment process as possible.

Paul Krizek

According to the report, the new committee members could be in place by the time of the committee’s June meeting.