Virginia has significantly loosened gambling laws in the last five years and with it has come a rise in problem gambling. But some treatment programs are seeing success.

“What we’ve seen since 2019 to 2023, an increase of 973% of callers,” said Carolyn Hawley, Director of the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, part of the state’s effort to combat problem gambling. Hawley told the General Assembly’s Joint Subcommittee to Study the Feasibility of Establishing the Virginia Gaming Commission about the increase in calls her group has gotten from those experiencing gambling addiction.

Gambling addiction is similar to other addictions, but its most chilling statistic is its link with suicide.

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