FOLLOWING THE LEGALIZATION OF SPORTS BETTING THIS YEAR, SOME COUNSELORS WORRY KANSAS IS UNPREPARED FOR AN INCREASE IN GAMBLING ADDICTIONS. THE KANSAS NEWS SERVICE REPORTS THAT THE STATE DEDICATES 2% OF MONEY GENERATED FROM GAMBLING TO ITS PROBLEM GAMBLING AND ADDICTIONS GRANT FUND.
STEPHENIE ROBERTS IS A GAMBLING COUNSELOR IN WICHITA AND SHE SAYS THE ISSUE IS THAT NOT ALL OF THAT MONEY GOES TO PROBLEM GAMBLING. STATE DOCUMENTS SHOW MUCH OF IT IS USED FOR MEDICAID MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. SINCE 2013, AN AVERAGE OF 7 PERCENT OF THE FUND – ABOUT $600,000 – HAS GONE TO PROBLEM GAMBLING SERVICES ANNUALLY. SHE ADDS THERE ARE A LOT OF GAMBLERS OUT THERE THAT DON’T KNOW THE HELP IS AVAILABLE, AND SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT SUICIDE RATES THAT TEND TO GO UP IF GAMBLING ISSUES ARE NOT ADDRESSED.
JOYCE MARKHAM, WITH THE KANSAS COALITION ON PROBLEM GAMBLING, SAYS ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE FUND GOES TO GAMBLING ADDICTION SERVICES LIKE ADVERTISING THE HELP HOTLINE, ADDING THAT IF YOU ASK TEN PEOPLE TODAY WHERE WOULD YOU GO IF YOU HAD A PROBLEM WITH GAMBLING, THEY’RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO TELL YOU THEY’RE GOING TO CALL THE HOTLINE. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE STATE SAYS KANSAS IS REVIEWING BUDGETARY NEEDS FOR PROBLEM GAMBLING RESOURCES.
