The number of calls to Kentucky’s problem gambling hotline have tripled since sports betting became legal in September.
The Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling says the number caught them by surprise.
“I thought it would be a steady progression that we would get to these numbers as sports betting evolved,” said Michael Stone, the council’s executive director. “I did not expect a tripling of the raw calls and doubling of the help calls in the first month.”
Michael Stone says Kentucky has only seven qualified counselors across the state. There is not a counselor in Lexington.
