THIS MORNING, THE VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH LAUNCHED ITS RESPONSIBLE GAMING WEBSITE FOR SPORTS BETTERS. IT COMES ROUGHLY SIX MONTHS AFTER SPORTS WAGERING LAUNCHED IN VERMONT IN JANUARY. NBC 5'S STEPHEN BIDDIX JOINS US LIVE RESPONSIBLE GAMING SITE HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AND WAS REQUIRED BY THE LEGISLATURE WHEN THE SPORTS BETTING BILL WAS SIGNED INTO LAW. THE VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH ESTIMATES CLOSE TO 12,000 PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT. ROUGHLY 6 MONTHS SINCE SPORTS WAGERING WENT LIVE IN VERMONT - there's a NEW online resource - to reinforce how to place bets responsibly. Gov. Phil Scott, (R) Vermont <BY LEGALIZING IT AND BRINGING IT ABOVE BOARD NOT ONLY DOES IT ALLOW THE STATE TO GAIN REVENUE BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO PUT CONSUMER PROTECTIONS IN PLACE AND SUPPORT ADDICTION AND PREVENTION INITIATIVES.> 00:01:08:27- Former Deputy Commissioner Dept. of Mental Health <THERE IS STILL A NEED TO EDUCATE AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE MYTHS AROUND PROBLEM GAMBLING.> NOW HALF A YEAR LATER VTGAMBLINGHELP. ORG IS HERE. Dr. Kelley Klein, Medical Director VT. Dept. of Mental Health <WE NEEDED MORE WE OBVIOUSLY HAD LOTTERY AND SCRATCH OFFS LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT WHICH THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT BECOME ADDICTED TO THOSE AS WELL BUT WE KNEW THAT WHEN ONLINE SPORTS BETTING WENT LIVE WE WOULD HAVE A RISE IN INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE AT LEAST AT RISK FOR PROBLEM GAMBLING OR GAMBLING ADDICTION.> THE SITE INCLUDES A 24/7 CHAT BOX, WAYS TO IDENTIFY IF SOMEONE HAS A GAMBLING ADDICTION AND INFORMATION FOR GAMBLER'S ANONYMOUS AND ADDICTION GROUPS. 00:02:44:04- 00:03:00:08 kelley <ONLINE SPORTS BETTING IS ON OUR PHONES SO IF SOMEBODY IS VERY LINKED TO THAT AND FEELS COMFORTABLE JUST CHATTING WITH SOMEONE THIS PROVIDES THAT OUTLET TO THEM AND THEY CAN GET SUPPORT THEY CAN EVEN JUST SAY I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE A PROBLEM BUT I'M STARTING TO NOTICE SOME THINGS CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH IT.> THE SITE ALSO HAS LINKS FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND EVERYDAY PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR FREE TRAINING SESSIONS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GAMBLING ADDICTION AND IT'S SIGNS. 00:04:38:06 kelley <VERMONTERS WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS TRAINING THAT'S GOING TO BE OFFERED IN THE FALL AND SPRING AND THEY WILL BE CERTIFIED AD VERMONT PROBLEM GAMBLING COUNSELORS.> THE SITE ALSO HAS LINKS TO REGISTER YOURSELF WITH THE STATE TO BE PUT ON AN EXCLUSION LIST WHERE YOU CAN SELECT 1, 3, 5, YEARS OR A LIFETIME BAN FROM SPORTS BETTING IF YOU FEEL IT'S NECESSARY. YOU CAN FIND THE LINK TO THA
Advertisem*nt
Vermont launches responsible gaming website to help bettors
The Dept. estimates 11,600 people are struggling with gambling addiction whether they know it or not.
The Vermont Department of Mental Health launched their responsible gaming website for sports betters on Tuesday. It comes roughly six months after sports wagering launched in Vermont in January. The Dept. estimates 11,600 people are struggling with gambling addiction, whether they know it or not. "We needed more, we obviously had lottery and scratch offs which there are people that become addicted to those as well," Dr. Kelley Klein the Medical Director at the Dept. of Mental Health said. "But we knew that when online sports betting went live we would have a rise in individuals that were at least at risk for problem gambling or gambling addiction."On the website you can find everything from a 24/7 live chat box to information that can help you understand what gambling addiction looks like, as the ability to place bets is still relatively new to the state."Online sports betting is on our phones, so if somebody is very linked to that and feels comfortable just chatting with someone, this provides that outlet to them; they can get support. They can even just say 'I don’t know if I have a problem but I'm starting to notice some things, can you walk me through it,'" said Klein. The site also has links for medical providers and everyday people to sign up for free training sessions to learn more about gambling addiction and it’s signs. "Vermonters will be able to take this training that’s going to be offered in the fall and spring and they will be certified as Vermont problem gambling counselors," said Kelley. In addition, the website has links to register yourself with the state to be put on an exclusion list where you can select a one, three, five year, or a lifetime ban from sports betting if you feel it’s necessary.
MONTPELIER, Vt. —
The Vermont Department of Mental Health launched their responsible gaming website for sports betters on Tuesday. It comes roughly six months after sports wagering launched in Vermont in January.
The Dept. estimates 11,600 people are struggling with gambling addiction, whether they know it or not.
Advertisem*nt
"We needed more, we obviously had lottery and scratch offs which there are people that become addicted to those as well," Dr. Kelley Klein the Medical Director at the Dept. of Mental Health said. "But we knew that when online sports betting went live we would have a rise in individuals that were at least at risk for problem gambling or gambling addiction."
On the website you can find everything from a 24/7 live chat box to information that can help you understand what gambling addiction looks like, as the ability to place bets is still relatively new to the state.
"Online sports betting is on our phones, so if somebody is very linked to that and feels comfortable just chatting with someone, this provides that outlet to them; they can get support. They can even just say 'I don’t know if I have a problem but I'm starting to notice some things, can you walk me through it,'" said Klein.
The site also has links for medical providers and everyday people to sign up for free training sessions to learn more about gambling addiction and it’s signs.
"Vermonters will be able to take this training that’s going to be offered in the fall and spring and they will be certified as Vermont problem gambling counselors," said Kelley.
In addition, the website has links to register yourself with the state to be put on an exclusion list where you can select a one, three, five year, or a lifetime ban from sports betting if you feel it’s necessary.
