PA Lottery Marks Problem Gambling Awareness Month, Highlights Available Resources

MIDDLETOWN, Pa., March 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Recognizing March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month, the Pennsylvania Lottery today reminded players of ways to identify the signs of a gambling problem and available resources that can help.

"It's important for everyone to understand the warning signs of a gambling problem," said Executive Director Sil Lutkewitte. "Our commitment to social responsibility means that we want players to get immediate help if they think they may have a problem."

The warning signs include:

• Denying there is a problem;
• Lying about where the money is going;
• Borrowing money to gamble or pay off debts;
• Missing work to gamble;
• Losing touch with friends due to gambling; and/or
• Looking for the "high" that comes from gambling.

To seek confidential help for yourself or a loved one, call the Pennsylvania Compulsive Gambling hotline, 1-800-848-1880, or visit www.paproblemgambling.com.

As part of its social responsibility mission, the Pennsylvania Lottery funds and heavily 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.

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 nearly $23.7 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 its players to play responsibly. Players must be 18 or older.

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

Media contacts: Gary Miller or Lauren Bottaro, 717-702-8008

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery

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