WEBVTT
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Hello, listeners and viewers to Behind the Bets in PA.
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I'm your host, Doug Harbaugh.
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Recently, we had the opportunity to talk with Joshua Cole with Pennsylvania's Council on Problem Gambling.
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And as I moved through that interview, it became evident to me that we really didn't hit some of the nuts and bolts that the gambling consumer might want to know.
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In particular, I think it's important to know what happens when you go after these resources of help for a gambling or compulsive gambling problem.
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So I want to invite back Josh or Cole to our show today.
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And I want to get into that a little bit more, Josh, because I want people to understand who may have some hesitancy on A, admitting they have a gambling problem, and B, then seeking the help that's available for them, that they shouldn't have that fear and what's really the help available to them that can really change their life.
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So let's talk about that a little bit.
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So it, you know, you look at the bottom of a screen on an ad or and and you see these small print, and it's all about if on there is the 1-800 gambler number.
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So that's an important number that's been in existence for years.
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Um, and that um is a number people call, and in your case, sometimes they're able to text now to get help.
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So let's talk about what happens when an individual gets over that fear and decides that they need that type of help.
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Um let let us know what what they should expect.
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Sure.
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Yeah, thanks for having us back, Doug.
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Um, I appreciate the opportunity.
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And this this is this is a big one, right?
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Because there are a lot of folks out there um, very likely who don't fully recognize just how the the 800 gambler number works in Pennsylvania.
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Um, in short, this is a phone line that is uh completely dedicated towards helping people who are struggling with gambling problems or just want more information about resources that exist.
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Um, and I think that's an important piece is that this is not just for situations where somebody is, you know, at their wits' end realizing, geez, I've just lost absolutely everything and you know, my my spouse is leaving me or I've lost the house or the kids' college fund is emptied.
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It's far, far from that.
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We have calls coming in from folks who are just curious if, you know, am I doing anything that I shouldn't be?
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Is this a situation where, you know, how I'm approaching gambling maybe isn't quite as healthy as uh it could be or as as it once was.
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And and that's what we really want to see.
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Uh, because this this call line, it's a 24-7 resource line.
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It's available in a number of different languages.
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We have over 200 languages that we can translate um using a language service.
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It's confidential, it's free, right?
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And and we want that to be that kind of one-stop shop for folks so that if there's a resource that is available in Pennsylvania by calling the number or like you mentioned, by using the chat or text features that we have available on our website, they can connect with someone and get that direct help or that direct information.
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And and you're absolutely right.
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When you see this number, you know, it can be confusing because there's a lot of language that you see at the bottom of that screen.
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Um, in some cases, there's no number because you're sitting in front of a machine or playing a game on your on your uh device that's not regulated and it for whatever reason doesn't have that number.
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Um I think it's just so important, though, that folks who are out in the community, especially in Pennsylvania, um, know that this number exists.
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And it's more than just a problem line, right?
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I mean, that is kind of how things started.
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Um, but we've expanded over the years to have resources that can help people, you know, as they start gambling.
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Maybe I just want to make sure I'm doing things in the best way possible.
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Maybe I want to make sure that I'm staying within some kind of safe limit that I can use a tool that exists to maybe keep myself there, right?
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And and then if I start not to stay within those limits and recognize that, then now I have options.
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Now I have an understanding of what I might want to do.
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Uh, and I think it works nicely in in the current landscape that we have in Pennsylvania as we kind of continue to approach this in in word of public health lens that we're trying to really make sure that that folks are aware that information and help is available.
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And and through that 1-800 gambler number, um, again, you will very quickly talk to a live individual.
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It's not, there's no prompts.
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You're not gonna call and you know have to leave your name or get a call back.
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This is all, you know, real-time, live individual who will quickly be able to offer resources.
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The the important thing to recognize, though, is that it's all related to um area code.
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So is some if someone's calling from a Pennsylvania area code, they will connect directly with the Pennsylvania council.
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If you're calling outside of Pennsylvania or from another area code, then it would go to that corresponding council.
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Um, but again, if it is a Pennsylvania issue, we encourage folks not to get discouraged.
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Please contact us directly through our website.
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We'll be able to assist directly ourselves, or we'll be able to connect you with the right.
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You know, that's an interesting point on that for people to understand.
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Um, and we get calls all the time for people that have a question or an issue dealing with let's say i gaming, uh sports wagering.
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They're in Pennsylvania, they're playing in Pennsylvania sites.
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But because people take their cell phone numbers and move around a lot, they may have a number that is uh dedicated to an area code in California.
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Um and they call that, you're saying that they would get connected to someone out there.
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Yes.
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Yeah.
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And and fortunately, we're all, you know, for the most part, we all work very closely together, um, state councils and affiliates.
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And if something like that were to happen, uh nine times out of ten, we're gonna get a call from our neighboring council saying we've received a call from someone.
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Can you get back to them?
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Can you follow up?
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And and that's typically how that works.
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But again, it can be challenging if uh someone does place that call and receives, you know.
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I mean, that's that's a big step, right?
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Like we've talked about that many times in the past.
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You mentioned it earlier.
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Uh, there's a lot of fear.
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That's a very brave step that someone's taking.
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And and if and when they do take that very first step, if they're met with any type of friction, that that can really, that can really throw, throw them off track.
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And and that's what we want to to try to do is minimize any of those those situations that arise because we want it to be as fluid a a situation as possible.
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And we want them to get the help that they need as quickly and easily as possible.
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Right.
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Regulations call that the that one eightogam number is going to appear in the casinos.
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Yes, uh, it it all over the place within the casino.
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It'll appear on an ATM machine.
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It'll be there in front of people so that they're aware of it.
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And at some point, hopefully we'll push the button if they have a problem to get that help.
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It's also available, as we mentioned, on all these ads for on television for all these other things.
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Give me an idea though, from and again, being being with the council for 15 years, what's what are you seeing from the person who calls the 800 gambler number now?
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And what are the what are the type of people that are calling it in in you know in 2026?
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Sure.
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Yeah, I mean, as you can imagine, things shift over the course of time.
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Um and you know, a lot of it, I mean, I think there's there's that simple equation, we have more gambling available than ever before in Pennsylvania.
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We have more people participating in gambling than ever before.
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Um, when you have a situation where you have increased availability and increased participation, I don't care what it is, you're gonna see an increase in some type of number of problems, right?
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And that could be there's more McDonald's that are open on the the corner that, you know, like the way we have more people that are eating Big Macs, right?
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Like it's just anything like that.
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But the, you know, the situation is, you know, if we have that increase, which we've seen, um, especially since the expansion to online forms and sports betting and different types of of new uh types of gambling.
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It you know, it's important to look inside that and see what is it that we are seeing, because that can really direct treatment approaches, it can direct prevention efforts and how do we want to look at things.
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And we have seen more folks who are reaching out who are falling into a younger demographic um overall.
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And uh with that, we do see a lot of calls coming in that are much more related to online forms of gambling, sports betting being one of them.
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And and the individual that that be that's back up a second prior to them taking this step.
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Um, and we do have uh the your website address up uh for those who are watching or listening, that there are some tools there too to give them some idea on answering some questions to see whether or not maybe they have gone over the line on on what's uh responsible gambling before they call.
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Yeah, and and I think that's important.
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Um, you know, we ourselves, we we're constantly looking at language and and how how do we best connect folks with resources?
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How do we help people understand that, you know, this is something that is delicate and it's different, you know, it's sometimes difficult to talk about.
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Gambling in and of itself is an activity, right?
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Like it's it's a game.
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It's not something that's necessarily good or bad.
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It's how people relate to it.
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You know, if if gambling truly was bad, 100% of people that ever placed a bet would be struggling, would have devastating outcomes, it would be, you know, it would be universal.
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But that's far from the case.
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Most people don't fall under that umbrella.
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So looking at that, you really need to kind of shift that that lens and from a a a problem good thing, bad thing discussion to more of a a healthy activity, right?
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So is my relationship with gambling a healthy one?
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Or is it maybe starting to go down a path where what was once healthy is now shifting a little bit?
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And that's kind of what we're looking at.
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So on our website, we have a very short three-question uh survey that sort of assesses that.
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And, you know, if someone is answering the questions honestly and finds that, okay, maybe I don't have the healthiest relationship, that doesn't mean that you have this fully developed gambling problem or it's time to hit the panic button.
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But it's a great opportunity to maybe explore some of the resources that exist so that maybe you could get back to a place where things are better.
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Or, or maybe it's a situation where I probably shouldn't do this anymore.
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And maybe I should look for some help to maybe address why I am doing it the way that I am.
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And even if someone answers those questions and realizes that, well, okay, good, I am in a healthy place, there's resources for those folks too to stay there.
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And and that's really the goal is keeping things because let's face it, once somebody places their first bet, they are now entering a world where they're at risk of developing a gambling problem.
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And that's just by simple participation and because of the risks that are associated with gambling activities.
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Yeah, and you're right.
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There are those other, you know, if you go to the the gaming control board's uh site for problem gambling, which is responsibleplay.pa.gov, you know, we have some things on there, especially for the self-exclusion list.
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That's a tool that's available for individuals that they may want to undertake.
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There's also limits that can be placed on these websites that you're gambling upon that can can help you along the way.
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But let's look now at that there used to be a show, maybe it's still on, called Fear Factor.
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So um, let's talk about this 1-800 gambler number.
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And I'm I'm ready to dial that number.
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But I have a little fear.
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What what what do you see that that uh keeps people from doing that?
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And then once the if they do get over that fear, what can they expect then on the other line when they do call?
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Yeah, that's that's a great point.
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And that's been a big um a big concern for a long time is the fear that folks have, right?
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The stigma that's associated with gambling.
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Gambling's unlike other, even though diagnostically and clinically, what happens to the brain as people are preparing to and engaged in gambling, it's very similar to what we see with other types of substance-related issues.
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It's not seen the same way.
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It there's, you know, a lot of times it's perceived that it's just the game.
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If you're playing a game and losing money, just stop.
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And of course, it's not as simple as that.
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That can really that can send ripples through somebody's uh confidence level in terms of addressing what is going on.
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And a lot of times there's other underlying circumstances, there's coexisting situations, maybe um, you know, different types of of mental health disturbances or things that folks are experiencing.
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So a whole host of different reasons why someone may be reluctant to simply reach out for help.
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I think the other big one is people a lot of times don't recognize that what they're doing is unhealthy or that it is a potential problem.
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So, you know, the problems that people have, that's that's them over there.
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That's not me.
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So that's where kind of, you know, planting seeds by just having these simple questions that people can answer, maybe that'll start to change the tone a little bit and it'll help them take those steps.
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Now, if somebody does receive um the number and makes a call, uh they'll be greeted warmly by a helpline specialist who will be able to start kind of just talking about what their needs are.
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The goal is always to keep folks as comfortable as possible, even with the resources that we're providing.
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So if someone calls us and says, I don't want to sit across the table from somebody and hear them talk to me about all of my problems.
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But maybe I would go to a meeting and talk to other people with lived experience.
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Great, we can accomplish that.
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And vice versa.
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If somebody says, you know, I'm just looking for, I don't want to talk to, I don't want to go to a meeting, I don't want to talk to somebody, what do you have?
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Well, we have tools and resources, things like self-exclusion.
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We have online recovery apps and different types of meetings that they can attend virtually where they don't necessarily need to participate in the same way.
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So we try to have as many options as possible so that what what what may work for one person may not work for another, but in some cases, you know, that's that's the you know, the that's the the the tool that we needed to have to help those those other folks out there.
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And and they're not left alone.
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I think sometimes they might call us 1-800 gambler number and get some information, and then things just go away and their that help doesn't continue there.
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How do you keep in in you know in contact with these people?
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How do you follow through with making sure that you know they they they either have have have gotten the help they need for the problem, uh, you know, or at least are on the path to it?
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Yeah, it's I mean, just like with any addiction, we do see a lot of folks that do take that first brave step and ask for help, and that's exhausting to them.
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And and unfortunately, that's where things stop.
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And even if we're able to provide them with resources, you know, this is a delicate time that they're in.
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And it, you know, they may have a day where they're really distressed, they call that number and then they realize just the just the enormity of what that next step may look like.
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We do try to have follow-up conversations.
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We do invite folks to call back.
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We do ask if they'd like follow-up calls.
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We do try to stay in touch with them and help assist.
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Um, but there are a lot of situations where unfortunately that may be the only time that we speak with them.
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Um, what we try to do in those situations is obviously give as much information that we can.
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So again, it plants that seed.
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So at least they're aware that help is available.
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They're aware that there are these resources that exist, which they may not have been aware of before calling.
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And even if they're not taking that step today, maybe, you know, if they do continue to experience problems, they'll call back again or they'll they'll they'll maybe pursue some of those things that we talked about.
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Yeah.
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And these people on the other line, again, non-judgmental people have they have a a background uh that that that is what that that they're able to kind of help these people with.
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Yeah, they go through hundreds of hours of training, um, triage management, crisis calls management, uh, crisis call management.
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Um, we do have some folks that work.
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They are they are certified counselors on uh a staff at the helpline that oversee any type of call for help.
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We have connections to different um, you know, suicide prevention and and crisis lines that we can always bring in for additional help.
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And we also, fortunately in Pennsylvania, have several counselors that are offering warm handoff services.
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So in some cases, some folks who may call and say, I want to talk to somebody, we have the ability to connect that call immediately with one of these agencies.
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Um, and and you know, from there they can at least they may not get a an immediate uh session with a counselor, but at least at that point they're in the scheduling um area where we can now help them, you know, take that step to maybe set up a meeting for sometime that week or or whenever it works for their schedule.
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Yeah.
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Well, Josh Arcole, uh I again thank you for taking the time with with us and uh letting people know about the council and problem gambling and PA, but also about the 1-800 gambler number.
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I know over the years, because of the expansion of gambling, the people that are calling that has increased.
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Um I hope it increases even more after they get more awareness from this show and other things so that they don't have the fear of calling up and saying, I I need some help on this.
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I need some advice at least.
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Where do I go here before this develops into an even more serious problem?
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So I appreciate your time today.
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Great.
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Thanks, Doug.
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Yeah, thanks for having me.
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Appreciate it.
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You're very welcome.
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And and again, thanks to Christina Qualik and Richard McGarvey for their help on this podcast.
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We will drop another one on your favorite platform and also on the YouTube channel in the near future.
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Um, I also want to make sure that you know that we will continue to look at this issue of problem gambling uh within episodes of this.
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If you are out there listening or watching this today, please make it a great rest of your day.
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Hello, listeners and viewers to Behind the Bets in PA.
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I'm your host, Doug Harbaugh.
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Recently, we had the opportunity to talk with Joshua Cole with Pennsylvania's Council on Problem Gambling.
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And as I moved through that interview, it became evident to me that we really didn't hit some of the nuts and bolts that the gambling consumer might want to know.
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In particular, I think it's important to know what happens when you go after these resources of help for a gambling or compulsive gambling problem.
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So I want to invite back Josh or Cole to our show today.
00:00:52.560 --> 00:01:14.159
And I want to get into that a little bit more, Josh, because I want people to understand who may have some hesitancy on A, admitting they have a gambling problem, and B, then seeking the help that's available for them, that they shouldn't have that fear and what's really the help available to them that can really change their life.
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So let's talk about that a little bit.
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So it, you know, you look at the bottom of a screen on an ad or and and you see these small print, and it's all about if on there is the 1-800 gambler number.
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So that's an important number that's been in existence for years.
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Um, and that um is a number people call, and in your case, sometimes they're able to text now to get help.
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So let's talk about what happens when an individual gets over that fear and decides that they need that type of help.
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Um let let us know what what they should expect.
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Sure.
00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:52.879
Yeah, thanks for having us back, Doug.
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Um, I appreciate the opportunity.
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And this this is this is a big one, right?
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Because there are a lot of folks out there um, very likely who don't fully recognize just how the the 800 gambler number works in Pennsylvania.
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Um, in short, this is a phone line that is uh completely dedicated towards helping people who are struggling with gambling problems or just want more information about resources that exist.
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Um, and I think that's an important piece is that this is not just for situations where somebody is, you know, at their wits' end realizing, geez, I've just lost absolutely everything and you know, my my spouse is leaving me or I've lost the house or the kids' college fund is emptied.
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It's far, far from that.
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We have calls coming in from folks who are just curious if, you know, am I doing anything that I shouldn't be?
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Is this a situation where, you know, how I'm approaching gambling maybe isn't quite as healthy as uh it could be or as as it once was.
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And and that's what we really want to see.
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Uh, because this this call line, it's a 24-7 resource line.
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It's available in a number of different languages.
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We have over 200 languages that we can translate um using a language service.
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It's confidential, it's free, right?
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And and we want that to be that kind of one-stop shop for folks so that if there's a resource that is available in Pennsylvania by calling the number or like you mentioned, by using the chat or text features that we have available on our website, they can connect with someone and get that direct help or that direct information.
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And and you're absolutely right.
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When you see this number, you know, it can be confusing because there's a lot of language that you see at the bottom of that screen.
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Um, in some cases, there's no number because you're sitting in front of a machine or playing a game on your on your uh device that's not regulated and it for whatever reason doesn't have that number.
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Um I think it's just so important, though, that folks who are out in the community, especially in Pennsylvania, um, know that this number exists.
00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:57.919
And it's more than just a problem line, right?
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I mean, that is kind of how things started.
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Um, but we've expanded over the years to have resources that can help people, you know, as they start gambling.
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Maybe I just want to make sure I'm doing things in the best way possible.
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Maybe I want to make sure that I'm staying within some kind of safe limit that I can use a tool that exists to maybe keep myself there, right?
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And and then if I start not to stay within those limits and recognize that, then now I have options.
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Now I have an understanding of what I might want to do.
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Uh, and I think it works nicely in in the current landscape that we have in Pennsylvania as we kind of continue to approach this in in word of public health lens that we're trying to really make sure that that folks are aware that information and help is available.
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And and through that 1-800 gambler number, um, again, you will very quickly talk to a live individual.
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It's not, there's no prompts.
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You're not gonna call and you know have to leave your name or get a call back.
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This is all, you know, real-time, live individual who will quickly be able to offer resources.
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The the important thing to recognize, though, is that it's all related to um area code.
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So is some if someone's calling from a Pennsylvania area code, they will connect directly with the Pennsylvania council.
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If you're calling outside of Pennsylvania or from another area code, then it would go to that corresponding council.
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Um, but again, if it is a Pennsylvania issue, we encourage folks not to get discouraged.
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Please contact us directly through our website.
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We'll be able to assist directly ourselves, or we'll be able to connect you with the right.
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You know, that's an interesting point on that for people to understand.
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Um, and we get calls all the time for people that have a question or an issue dealing with let's say i gaming, uh sports wagering.
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They're in Pennsylvania, they're playing in Pennsylvania sites.
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But because people take their cell phone numbers and move around a lot, they may have a number that is uh dedicated to an area code in California.
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Um and they call that, you're saying that they would get connected to someone out there.
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Yes.
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Yeah.
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And and fortunately, we're all, you know, for the most part, we all work very closely together, um, state councils and affiliates.
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And if something like that were to happen, uh nine times out of ten, we're gonna get a call from our neighboring council saying we've received a call from someone.
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Can you get back to them?
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Can you follow up?
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And and that's typically how that works.
00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:23.279
But again, it can be challenging if uh someone does place that call and receives, you know.
00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:24.959
I mean, that's that's a big step, right?
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Like we've talked about that many times in the past.
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You mentioned it earlier.
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Uh, there's a lot of fear.
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That's a very brave step that someone's taking.
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And and if and when they do take that very first step, if they're met with any type of friction, that that can really, that can really throw, throw them off track.
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And and that's what we want to to try to do is minimize any of those those situations that arise because we want it to be as fluid a a situation as possible.
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And we want them to get the help that they need as quickly and easily as possible.
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Right.
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Regulations call that the that one eightogam number is going to appear in the casinos.
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Yes, uh, it it all over the place within the casino.
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It'll appear on an ATM machine.
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It'll be there in front of people so that they're aware of it.
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And at some point, hopefully we'll push the button if they have a problem to get that help.
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It's also available, as we mentioned, on all these ads for on television for all these other things.
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Give me an idea though, from and again, being being with the council for 15 years, what's what are you seeing from the person who calls the 800 gambler number now?
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And what are the what are the type of people that are calling it in in you know in 2026?
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Sure.
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Yeah, I mean, as you can imagine, things shift over the course of time.
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Um and you know, a lot of it, I mean, I think there's there's that simple equation, we have more gambling available than ever before in Pennsylvania.
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We have more people participating in gambling than ever before.
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Um, when you have a situation where you have increased availability and increased participation, I don't care what it is, you're gonna see an increase in some type of number of problems, right?
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And that could be there's more McDonald's that are open on the the corner that, you know, like the way we have more people that are eating Big Macs, right?
00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:08.160
Like it's just anything like that.
00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:19.759
But the, you know, the situation is, you know, if we have that increase, which we've seen, um, especially since the expansion to online forms and sports betting and different types of of new uh types of gambling.
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It you know, it's important to look inside that and see what is it that we are seeing, because that can really direct treatment approaches, it can direct prevention efforts and how do we want to look at things.
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And we have seen more folks who are reaching out who are falling into a younger demographic um overall.
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And uh with that, we do see a lot of calls coming in that are much more related to online forms of gambling, sports betting being one of them.
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And and the individual that that be that's back up a second prior to them taking this step.
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Um, and we do have uh the your website address up uh for those who are watching or listening, that there are some tools there too to give them some idea on answering some questions to see whether or not maybe they have gone over the line on on what's uh responsible gambling before they call.
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Yeah, and and I think that's important.
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Um, you know, we ourselves, we we're constantly looking at language and and how how do we best connect folks with resources?
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How do we help people understand that, you know, this is something that is delicate and it's different, you know, it's sometimes difficult to talk about.
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Gambling in and of itself is an activity, right?
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Like it's it's a game.
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It's not something that's necessarily good or bad.
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It's how people relate to it.
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You know, if if gambling truly was bad, 100% of people that ever placed a bet would be struggling, would have devastating outcomes, it would be, you know, it would be universal.
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But that's far from the case.
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Most people don't fall under that umbrella.
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So looking at that, you really need to kind of shift that that lens and from a a a problem good thing, bad thing discussion to more of a a healthy activity, right?
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So is my relationship with gambling a healthy one?
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Or is it maybe starting to go down a path where what was once healthy is now shifting a little bit?
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And that's kind of what we're looking at.
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So on our website, we have a very short three-question uh survey that sort of assesses that.
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And, you know, if someone is answering the questions honestly and finds that, okay, maybe I don't have the healthiest relationship, that doesn't mean that you have this fully developed gambling problem or it's time to hit the panic button.
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But it's a great opportunity to maybe explore some of the resources that exist so that maybe you could get back to a place where things are better.
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Or, or maybe it's a situation where I probably shouldn't do this anymore.
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And maybe I should look for some help to maybe address why I am doing it the way that I am.
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And even if someone answers those questions and realizes that, well, okay, good, I am in a healthy place, there's resources for those folks too to stay there.
00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:15.360
And and that's really the goal is keeping things because let's face it, once somebody places their first bet, they are now entering a world where they're at risk of developing a gambling problem.
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And that's just by simple participation and because of the risks that are associated with gambling activities.
00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:21.120
Yeah, and you're right.
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There are those other, you know, if you go to the the gaming control board's uh site for problem gambling, which is responsibleplay.pa.gov, you know, we have some things on there, especially for the self-exclusion list.
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That's a tool that's available for individuals that they may want to undertake.
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There's also limits that can be placed on these websites that you're gambling upon that can can help you along the way.
00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:49.039
But let's look now at that there used to be a show, maybe it's still on, called Fear Factor.
00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:52.720
So um, let's talk about this 1-800 gambler number.
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And I'm I'm ready to dial that number.
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But I have a little fear.
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What what what do you see that that uh keeps people from doing that?
00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:09.440
And then once the if they do get over that fear, what can they expect then on the other line when they do call?
00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:11.279
Yeah, that's that's a great point.
00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:17.679
And that's been a big um a big concern for a long time is the fear that folks have, right?
00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:19.840
The stigma that's associated with gambling.
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Gambling's unlike other, even though diagnostically and clinically, what happens to the brain as people are preparing to and engaged in gambling, it's very similar to what we see with other types of substance-related issues.
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It's not seen the same way.
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It there's, you know, a lot of times it's perceived that it's just the game.
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If you're playing a game and losing money, just stop.
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And of course, it's not as simple as that.
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That can really that can send ripples through somebody's uh confidence level in terms of addressing what is going on.
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And a lot of times there's other underlying circumstances, there's coexisting situations, maybe um, you know, different types of of mental health disturbances or things that folks are experiencing.
00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:07.519
So a whole host of different reasons why someone may be reluctant to simply reach out for help.
00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:15.440
I think the other big one is people a lot of times don't recognize that what they're doing is unhealthy or that it is a potential problem.
00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:19.120
So, you know, the problems that people have, that's that's them over there.
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That's not me.
00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:30.080
So that's where kind of, you know, planting seeds by just having these simple questions that people can answer, maybe that'll start to change the tone a little bit and it'll help them take those steps.
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Now, if somebody does receive um the number and makes a call, uh they'll be greeted warmly by a helpline specialist who will be able to start kind of just talking about what their needs are.
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The goal is always to keep folks as comfortable as possible, even with the resources that we're providing.
00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:54.559
So if someone calls us and says, I don't want to sit across the table from somebody and hear them talk to me about all of my problems.
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But maybe I would go to a meeting and talk to other people with lived experience.
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Great, we can accomplish that.
00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:01.600
And vice versa.
00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:07.360
If somebody says, you know, I'm just looking for, I don't want to talk to, I don't want to go to a meeting, I don't want to talk to somebody, what do you have?
00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:10.399
Well, we have tools and resources, things like self-exclusion.
00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:18.240
We have online recovery apps and different types of meetings that they can attend virtually where they don't necessarily need to participate in the same way.
00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:33.679
So we try to have as many options as possible so that what what what may work for one person may not work for another, but in some cases, you know, that's that's the you know, the that's the the the tool that we needed to have to help those those other folks out there.
00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:36.320
And and they're not left alone.
00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:45.360
I think sometimes they might call us 1-800 gambler number and get some information, and then things just go away and their that help doesn't continue there.
00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:48.639
How do you keep in in you know in contact with these people?
00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:58.559
How do you follow through with making sure that you know they they they either have have have gotten the help they need for the problem, uh, you know, or at least are on the path to it?
00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:07.759
Yeah, it's I mean, just like with any addiction, we do see a lot of folks that do take that first brave step and ask for help, and that's exhausting to them.
00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:09.679
And and unfortunately, that's where things stop.
00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:15.200
And even if we're able to provide them with resources, you know, this is a delicate time that they're in.
00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:23.919
And it, you know, they may have a day where they're really distressed, they call that number and then they realize just the just the enormity of what that next step may look like.
00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:26.320
We do try to have follow-up conversations.
00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:27.919
We do invite folks to call back.
00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:29.919
We do ask if they'd like follow-up calls.
00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:32.799
We do try to stay in touch with them and help assist.
00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:38.240
Um, but there are a lot of situations where unfortunately that may be the only time that we speak with them.
00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:44.080
Um, what we try to do in those situations is obviously give as much information that we can.
00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:46.000
So again, it plants that seed.
00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:48.879
So at least they're aware that help is available.
00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:54.399
They're aware that there are these resources that exist, which they may not have been aware of before calling.
00:15:54.559 --> 00:16:04.240
And even if they're not taking that step today, maybe, you know, if they do continue to experience problems, they'll call back again or they'll they'll they'll maybe pursue some of those things that we talked about.
00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:04.799
Yeah.
00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:15.519
And these people on the other line, again, non-judgmental people have they have a a background uh that that that is what that that they're able to kind of help these people with.
00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:23.360
Yeah, they go through hundreds of hours of training, um, triage management, crisis calls management, uh, crisis call management.
00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:25.120
Um, we do have some folks that work.
00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:30.720
They are they are certified counselors on uh a staff at the helpline that oversee any type of call for help.
00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:38.080
We have connections to different um, you know, suicide prevention and and crisis lines that we can always bring in for additional help.
00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:43.600
And we also, fortunately in Pennsylvania, have several counselors that are offering warm handoff services.
00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:53.519
So in some cases, some folks who may call and say, I want to talk to somebody, we have the ability to connect that call immediately with one of these agencies.
00:16:53.679 --> 00:17:10.960
Um, and and you know, from there they can at least they may not get a an immediate uh session with a counselor, but at least at that point they're in the scheduling um area where we can now help them, you know, take that step to maybe set up a meeting for sometime that week or or whenever it works for their schedule.
00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:11.359
Yeah.
00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:23.759
Well, Josh Arcole, uh I again thank you for taking the time with with us and uh letting people know about the council and problem gambling and PA, but also about the 1-800 gambler number.
00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:30.079
I know over the years, because of the expansion of gambling, the people that are calling that has increased.
00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:41.759
Um I hope it increases even more after they get more awareness from this show and other things so that they don't have the fear of calling up and saying, I I need some help on this.
00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:43.599
I need some advice at least.
00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:48.000
Where do I go here before this develops into an even more serious problem?
00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:50.000
So I appreciate your time today.
00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:50.480
Great.
00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.039
Thanks, Doug.
00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:52.000
Yeah, thanks for having me.
00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:52.480
Appreciate it.
00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.440
You're very welcome.
00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:58.799
And and again, thanks to Christina Qualik and Richard McGarvey for their help on this podcast.
00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:05.519
We will drop another one on your favorite platform and also on the YouTube channel in the near future.
00:18:05.680 --> 00:18:14.880
Um, I also want to make sure that you know that we will continue to look at this issue of problem gambling uh within episodes of this.
00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:22.240
If you are out there listening or watching this today, please make it a great rest of your day.
