Legalized gambling brings major revenue to the state, but the amount allocated to treating problem gambling is minor – and completely dwarfed by the broader collateral social costs of gambling addiction. Efforts to reach the northeast’s task force chair, Peter Gusman, were unsuccessful. There was a northeast task force, but Roberts says it’s no longer active.

Roberts’ office gets about $60,000 a year to serve the Wichita metro area and believes that is higher than what the southwest and southeast task forces receive. Under current Kansas law, just 2 percent of tax revenues generated off gambling at casinos, lottery ticket sales and now sportsbooks is allocated to the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund. Roberts and others in her field believe the funding for addressing problem gambling is grossly inadequate. “Because when you are betting all your money and you suddenly lose it, you get in a very dark place, and having a number you can reach out to to get some help is important.” “A lot of people who get into serious problems with gambling may develop suicidal thinking, and that’s one of the things we try to address too, make sure people have that help they need when they’re in a crisis,” Roberts said. Roberts is chairman of the South Central Problem Gambling Task Force and one of the people callers to 1-80 problem gambling hotline are referred to. “We’re worried that the need is going to just increase,” said Stephenie Roberts, a Wichita social worker and certified gambling counselor. Just how much people will lose – and at what social cost – has those who try to help problem gamblers on edge. A few people will win, most will lose, but the house will always win. 1, Kansans have a new way to gamble away their money. With the arrival of legalized sports betting on Sept. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription.

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