HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania officials have released new online resources aimed at helping educators and families recognize the signs of problem gambling among young people and understand where to seek help.
What This Means for You
- New online resources are available to help parents and educators identify warning signs of youth gambling problems.
- Officials say more than 20 percent of Pennsylvania students report gambling at some point.
- A 24-hour helpline and other services are available for people seeking help with gambling issues.
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and the Department of Education announced the resources as part of Problem Gambling Awareness Month, a national initiative held each March to increase awareness of treatment options and encourage screening for gambling-related problems.
The materials include the Promoting Awareness Around Online Gambling and Its Impact Toolkit, which provides information for educators and parents on recognizing warning signs and addressing gambling-related risks among youth.
“Knowledge is power,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones. “DDAP and our partners at PDE encourage teachers, students, families, and all Pennsylvanians to learn about the signs of problem gambling and use that knowledge to stop gambling issues before they start.”
Warning Signs for Parents and Educators
The toolkit outlines several behaviors that may indicate early problem gambling activity among students.
These warning signs include increased time spent on mobile phones or gaming devices, declining interest in extracurricular activities, lower homework completion or school grades, and a growing focus on sports scores and statistics.
Officials also encourage families to use parental controls on games, apps, and gaming consoles to help limit exposure to gambling-related features.
Education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe said the resources are intended to help schools and families better navigate online environments where gambling-related content may appear.
“Ensuring the wellness of our students starts with equipping them with the tools they need to recognize when something is dangerous or unhealthy, and to ask for help when they need it,” Rowe said.
Gambling Trends in Pennsylvania
According to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania, more than 20 percent of students in the commonwealth have participated in gambling activities at some point.
State officials said increased access to online gambling has contributed to growing concerns about youth exposure.
Penn State University conducts an annual assessment of online gambling activity in Pennsylvania in partnership with DDAP and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
The 2025 report found that between 17 percent and 30 percent of adults in the state participated in some form of online gambling during the previous year.
More than half of calls to the state’s gambling helpline referenced online gambling as the primary concern, while sports betting was the most common online gambling activity.
Help and Resources
Pennsylvania offers several services for people seeking help with problem gambling.
The state operates a 24-hour Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537), as well as a 24-hour online chat service through the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania at https://www.pacouncil.com/.
Additional information and resources are available through the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs at https://ddap.pa.gov.
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