Pennsylvania Launches First Dedicated Case Management Program for Problem Gambling

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania has launched dedicated case management services for people affected by problem gambling for the first time in state history.

The program will help individuals and families address needs including housing, transportation, child care, employment, healthcare access and financial literacy alongside gambling treatment.

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs is funding the service through the state’s Compulsive and Problem Gambling Treatment Fund. Case management is separate from clinical treatment and is intended to help people overcome practical barriers that can interfere with recovery.

Related: State Report Warns Pennsylvania on Online Gambling Harm

1-800-GAMBLER Callers Now Offered Case Management

Under the new Pennsylvania problem gambling support program, people contacting 1-800-GAMBLER will now be offered both outpatient treatment and case management services.

Previously, callers to the state helpline were offered outpatient treatment but not dedicated case management. Those choosing the new service can be referred to a provider and connected with a trained case manager who can coordinate additional support.

DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones said the program was developed in response to feedback from people receiving problem gambling treatment, where counseling time was sometimes being used to address housing, transportation and other non-clinical problems.

The department said case managers can help coordinate care and connect people with transportation, child care, employment opportunities, housing assistance, healthcare providers and financial literacy resources. The service is also available to families affected by another person’s gambling.

State Funding Covers Services When Insurance Does Not

DDAP will fund case management as the payor of last resort for people whose insurance does not cover the service. The department said the approach is intended to strengthen the broader continuum of care rather than replace counseling or other clinical treatment.

Nearly 15 organizations are currently providing problem gambling case management across Pennsylvania, either in person or virtually. Providers operate in areas including Philadelphia, Montgomery, Lehigh, York, Berks, Erie, Blair, Bradford, Sullivan, Indiana, Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties.

People can find participating providers through DDAP’s online treatment and support locator or by calling 1-800-GAMBLER. The helpline is administered by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania.

CCGP Executive Director Josh Ercole said gambling-related harm can extend well beyond financial losses, affecting employment, housing, relationships and other areas of daily life. The council said 2025 produced its highest number of people seeking gambling-related help in Pennsylvania, adding to the case for broader support services.

Program Expands Pennsylvania’s Gambling Harm Response

The new service forms part of Pennsylvania’s wider problem gambling treatment and prevention system, which also includes outpatient care, the helpline and voluntary self-exclusion programs.

Self-exclusion allows people to request that they be barred from participating in specified legalized gambling activities, including casino gaming, online gambling, video gaming terminals and fantasy contests.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Pennsylvania Lottery, DDAP and other state and local organizations also collaborate on treatment, prevention and public awareness efforts. State officials said the new case management model is intended to provide a consistent point of contact for people whose recovery may depend on solving problems outside the treatment room.

Pennsylvania officials have not described the program as a replacement for existing treatment. Instead, it adds practical support around treatment in an effort to help people remain engaged in recovery while dealing with financial, housing, employment and family pressures associated with gambling-related harm.

RELATED TOPICS: Responsible Gambling