PA Lottery Highlights Available Help for Problem Gamblers; Notes Awareness Month

MIDDLETOWN, Pa., March 1, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Lottery today reminded players of the warning signs of a gambling problem and highlighted available resources that can help. March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month in Pennsylvania.

"If gambling may be a problem for you or someone you care about, we encourage you to call 1-800-848-1880 for confidential help," said Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. "We ask every player to always play responsibly. For certain people, that may mean not playing at all."

Gambling may be a problem when it:

• Causes financial problems;
• Harms your relationships with friends or loved ones;
• Interferes with work, school or other activities; and/or
• Impacts your physical or mental health.

It may also be a problem when it causes you to:

• Lie about or try to hide your gambling;
• Feel depressed, angry or upset afterward; and/or
• Use gambling as an escape to avoid dealing with other problems.

"When we say, 'Please play responsibly,' that means we want you to always play within your financial means and only for entertainment," Svitko added. "Put very simply: if you have a gambling problem, we do not want your business; we simply want you to get help."

For confidential help, call the toll-free Pennsylvania Compulsive Gambling hotline, 1-800-848-1880, or visit www.paproblemgambling.com. A 24-hour chat service is also available at www.pacouncil.com, operated by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania.

As part of its social responsibility mission, the Pennsylvania Lottery funds and actively promotes the Pennsylvania Compulsive Gambling hotline. The toll-free number, along with messages encouraging responsible play, appears on tickets, advertising and the nightly televised drawing show. The Lottery also reminds players that they must be 18 or older and that lottery games should never be given to children.

The Pennsylvania Lottery has earned the World Lottery Association's Level 2 Responsible Gaming Certification for its continuing efforts to promote responsible play.

To learn more about the warning signs of problem gambling and available services, visit www.palottery.state.pa.us/About-PA-Lottery/Play-Responsibly.aspx.

About the Pennsylvania Lottery: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception in 1971, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed more than $25.8 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free transit and reduced-fare shared rides; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; long-term living services; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including full- and part-time senior centers throughout the state.

The Pennsylvania Lottery reminds players to check every ticket, every time. Players must be 18 or older. Please play responsibly. For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-848-1880.

For drawings results, winning numbers, winners' stories and to subscribe to the Lottery's RSS news feed, visit www.palottery.com. Like us on Facebook at or follow us at www.twitter.com/palottery. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Lottery Public Relations, 717-702-8008

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery

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