• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / Gambling helpline sees record number of calls

Gambling helpline sees record number of calls

July 17, 2007 By admin

Iowa had record high gambling revenues last year, and officials say that news is mirrored by an increase in calls to the state’s gamblers assistance hotline. Mark Vander Linden is the Coordinator of the Iowa Gambling Treatment Program.

Vander Linden says fiscal 2007 revenue, reported by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, hit an all-time high of 1.32 billion dollars. At the same time, calls to the 1-800-BETS-OFF hotline increased by 15 percent from 2006. In addition to pari-mutuel betting and the state lottery, Iowa now has 20 casino facilities. Four of those casinos have opened within the past two years.

Vander Linden says the expansion of gaming is hitting rural areas that were not as close to gambling operations, "and with that, I think we’re seeing an increase in the number of problems that people are experiencing." In fiscal year 2007, over 7,300 phone calls were placed to Iowa’s gamblers assistance hotline.

Vander Linden says one-third of those calls were from people asking specifically about gambling treatment programs available in their area. Calls to 1-800-BETS-OFF also increased throughout the year, with calls in the second half of the fiscal year up 29 percent over the first half. 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, Recreation / Entertainment Tagged With: Gambling

Featured Stories

Bill would limit placement of solar arrays on farm ground

Marquette casino moving to land, leaving only 2 casino boats in Iowa

Reynolds signs her ‘school choice’ bill into law

Governor Reynolds touts 2024 Iowa Caucuses in Inaugural Address

University of Iowa grad presiding over U.S. House Speaker vote

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

No coaching changes coming for Iowa football

Iowa State names new receivers coach

No. 2 Iowa visits No. 1 Penn State in wrestling dual Friday night

Iowa’s Clark brings increased exposure to women’s basketball

No. 18 Iowa State women visit TCU

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC