Officials at the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling said they’ve seen an increase in calls and texts to the problem gambling helpline in June and July. Executive Director Mike Stone said, “The stay at home orders, the social isolation due to the pandemic, are causing people to spend more time on internet searches and looking for activities to do.”
He said with more people working from home or taking digital courses, they have more free time. “People don’t want others to know how much they gamble. How much easier is that when you’re always at home and not under any supervision?” he commented.
Stone noted those most at-risk are people with existing gambling problems. They may turn to online gambling while casinos are closed. He said, “Even though the online gaming aspect seems harmless, it can go hand in hand with gambling issues. For example, there might be a pop-up ad that says, ‘You know you’ve been successful at this game, why don’t you try your hand over here at this online poker’.”
Stone emphasized he’s not telling people to completely avoid online games or gambling for entertainment. He said his goal is to raise awareness about potential warning signs of greater problems, such as ignoring other aspects of life or spending less time sleeping or taking part in healthy activities.
