Ohio’s mental health and addiction services department is calling on people to “Get Set Before You Bet” as part of Responsible Gambling Education Month.

Scott Anderson, problem gambling specialist with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, said gambling disorder is a unique addiction because it has the ability to offer some type of hope to benefit in some way — although the benefits are fleeting and the odds are stacked against them.

“If someone is trying to get out of an unpleasant financial situation, unpleasant situation, and they feel that, you know, hitting that big jackpot is going to be the answer to all their troubles. And then they get into debt,” said Anderson.