Pennsylvania Gambling Hotline Remains Busy, Self-Exclusion Jumps

August 08, 2025

Outreach to the nonprofit organization is still strong, according to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania (CCGP) in its 2024 Annual Report.

The CCGP, an affiliate of the National Council on issue Gambling, provides assistance to individuals in Pennsylvania who are seeking treatment for a gambling issue.  The CCGP oversees a free, live, private helpline that connects callers to online and local options with qualified doctors who can help with gambling issues.

Pennsylvania’s 1-800-GAMBLER helpline offers voice and text alternatives.  The organization answered 26,751 calls in 2024.  The large majority were unrelated to gamblers requesting help, as hang-ups accounted for 24% of the volume, 17% indicated they had the wrong number, and 18% said they were seeking information on casinos and the lottery.

8% of the calls and messages, according to the CCGP, were intake calls or calls pertaining to problem gambling.  2,168 callers in need of assistance spoke with the service.  2024 marked the fourth year in a row where 1-800-GAMBLER in Pennsylvania enabled more than 2,000 intake calls.

Although the number of intake calls decreased from 2,693 in 2023, it was still twice as many as in 2019, when online casinos opened in June and sports betting started in May.

Through casinos, iGaming, sports betting, VGTs, and fantasy sports, gamblers in Pennsylvania lost about $6.4 billion last year.

Call Information 

According to the CCGP, its helpline received 234 intake calls in March, which is Problem Gambling Awareness Month and a time when many sports programs and social media platforms feature messaging on responsible gambling.  Approximately 11% of the 2024 intakes occurred in March.

Men constituted 71% of the intake dials and messages, while individuals aged 25-34 were likeliest to reach out, accounting for 23% of the volume.  Next at 20% was the age group of 35 to 44.  White individuals formed 64% of the admissions, with Blacks second at a distant 14%.

As for why they were seeking therapy to control or end their gambling condition, 71% claimed their play was generating financial concerns.  27% claimed mental health issues, and 34% indicated their gaming was causing family issues.  Only 7% claimed their gambling was resulting in career troubles.

Self-Exclusion in iGaming Rises

Four self-exclusion alternatives are provided by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board: fantasy sports, video gaming terminals (VGTs), iGaming, and casinos.  The state gaming agency’s online statistics portal shows enrollment rose in 2024.

Last year, there were 7,491 self-exclusion enrollments, up 37% from 5,459 in 2023.  4,242 people self-excluded in 2022.  In 2025, through August 8, 4,618 persons have excluded.  Since the program’s establishment in 2006, there have been 34,000 enrollments.

Responsible gaming specialists think the best treatment is for a problem gambler to remove their gaming rights.  The PGCB permits 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 prohibits one’s access to online sports betting.

Casino self-exclusion numbers 3,043.  About 71% were men who wished to no longer have access to any of the state’s 17 brick-and-mortar casinos.

There were 400 VGT self-exclusions and 503 exclusion from fantasy sports.