Pennsylvania Gambling Hotline Remains Busy, Self-Exclusion Jumps
Posted on: August 8, 2025, 08:29h.
Last updated on: August 8, 2025, 08:36h.
- The Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania says intake calls remained strong in 2024
- Self-exclusion continues to find favor among problem gamblers
- Pennsylvania is among the richest commercial gaming states in the country
The Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania (CCGP) reports in its 2024 Annual Report that outreach to the nonprofit organization remains robust.
An affiliate of the National Council on Problem Gambling, the CCGP assists those seeking help for a gambling problem within Pennsylvania. The CCGP manages a free, live, confidential helpline and refers callers to local and virtual resources with trained clinicians skilled in assisting with gambling disorders.
Pennsylvania’s 1-800-GAMBLER helpline offers voice and text options. In 2024, the organization fielded 26,751 calls. The great majority were unrelated to gamblers seeking help, as hang-ups accounted for 24% of the volume, 17% said they had the wrong number, and 18% said they were seeking information on casinos and the lottery.
The CCGP said 8% of the calls and texts were intake calls, or calls related to problem gambling. The agency spoke with 2,168 callers seeking help. 2024 marked the fourth year in a row where 1-800-GAMBLER in Pennsylvania facilitated more than 2,000 intake calls.
While the number of intake calls fell from 2,693 in 2023, the total remained double that of 2019, when online sports betting began in May and online casinos launched in June.
Gamblers lost almost $6.4 billion in Pennsylvania last year via casinos, iGaming, sports betting, VGTs, and fantasy sports.
Call Data
The CCGP says March, which is Problem Gambling Awareness Month and the time when many sports programming and social media outlets include responsible gaming messaging, was the busiest month for its helpline with 234 intake calls. March accounted for about 11% of the 2024 intakes.
Men represented 71% of the intake dials and texts, and those aged 25-34 were likeliest to reach out, accounting for 23% of the volume. The 35 to 44 age bracket was next at 20%. White people represented 64% of the intake, with Blacks second at a distant 14%.
As for why they were seeking help to curb or stop their gambling disorder, 71% said their play was causing financial problems. Thirty-four percent said their gambling was leading to family problems, and 27% reported mental health problems. Only 7% said their gambling was resulting in job problems.
iGaming Self-Exclusion Soars
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board offers four self-exclusion options — casino, iGaming, video gaming terminals (VGTs), and fantasy sports. The state gaming agency’s online data portal shows enrollment surged in 2024.
There were 7,491 self-exclusion enrollments last year, a 37% jump from 2023 when 5,459 persons self-excluded. In 2022, 4,242 self-excluded. In 2025, through August 8, 4,618 people have excluded. Since the program’s conception in 2006, there have been 34,000 enrollments.
Responsible gaming experts say the best treatment is for a problem gambler to remove their gaming privileges. The PGCB provides self-exclusion for one year, five years, or lifetime.
Of the 7,491 exclusions last year, iGaming accounted for the most enrollments. iGaming self-exclusion in 2024 totaled 3,545, with 70% men. iGaming exclusion additionally blocks one’s access to online sports betting.
Casino self-exclusion numbered 3,043. About 71% were men who wished to no longer have access to any of the state’s 17 brick-and-mortar casinos.
VGT self-exclusion totaled 400, and 503 individuals excluded from fantasy sports.
Last Comment ( 1 )
I recently won 200.00 on a slot machine while betting 3 dollars on 2 cents denomination. When I went to cashout a guy sitting next to me said, " Why are you cashing out keep going you may win the jackpot". I politely responded by saying, Yep, I could, or I can just take this 200.00 and go home and not give it back". He laughed and got in my seat as I left. GOTTA KNOW WHEN TO WALK AWAY...