Sports betting and online gambling are everywhere now.
You can place a bet from your couch in Chesapeake, check a parlay on your lunch break in Norfolk, or spin a slot-style game on your phone while you wait in line at the grocery store.
For many people, gambling stays occasional and low risk. For others, it quietly crosses a line from entertainment to something that harms mental health, finances, and relationships.
This article explains:
- What problem gambling looks like, including early signs to watch for
- Why sports betting can become risky faster than people expect
- Where to find gambling help in Virginia and how to connect with your local Community Services Board (CSB) in Region Five
If you recognize yourself or someone you love in these descriptions, you are not alone and help is available.
What is problem gambling?
Problem gambling, or gambling disorder, is any gambling behavior that harms your life. The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) defines problem gambling as gambling that compromises a person’s relationships, work or school, or ability to meet financial obligations and causes significant distress over time.
Clinically, problem gambling can involve:
- Feeling unable to cut back, even after serious losses
- Needing to bet more and more to feel the same excitement
- Continuing to gamble despite debts, conflict, or legal problems
Because there is no smell, no bottles, and no obvious “evidence,” gambling problems are easy to hide. Many people do most of their betting on a phone, which can make the behavior almost invisible until the consequences become severe.
Why sports betting feels different but carries the same risks
In Virginia, the expansion of casinos, online platforms, and sports betting has made gambling more accessible than ever. State leaders and clinicians have raised concerns that the ease of betting, especially for younger adults, increases the risk of gambling problems and addiction.
Sports betting can feel “safer” than other forms of gambling because it is tied to something familiar and social. You may already follow teams, talk about stats, and watch games with friends. Betting can feel like “just adding a little excitement.”
What changes the risk level is:
- Speed and frequency. In-play bets, parlays, and prop bets mean you can place many bets during a single game.
- 24/7 access. There is no closing time for your phone.
- Targeted marketing. Apps learn your patterns and send personalized promotions and odds boosts.
These features can deepen the pull for people who are already vulnerable to addiction, impulsive behavior, or coping with stress, anxiety, or depression.
Early signs that gambling is becoming a problem
Problem gambling rarely starts with a single big loss. For most people, it begins as a series of small shifts in time, money, mood, and honesty.
Here are early signs that betting is no longer “just for fun”:
1. Gambling takes up more of your thoughts and time
You find yourself checking odds throughout the day, planning bets while you should be working, or scrolling apps late into the night. You may feel restless or irritable if you cannot check scores or place a bet.
2. You are chasing losses
Instead of accepting a loss and walking away, you begin betting more to “win it back.” Chasing losses is one of the clearest warning signs of problem gambling.
3. You are spending more than you can afford
You might start by betting small amounts, then slowly increase the size and frequency of bets. You use money that was meant for bills, groceries, or savings. You may begin using credit cards or multiple banking apps to cover gambling.
4. You are hiding or lying about gambling
You leave out details, minimize how much you are spending, or open accounts that partners or family members do not know about. Secretive behavior around money or apps is often a sign that you feel ashamed or out of control.
5. Your mood depends on wins and losses
Your emotional state swings with the outcomes of bets. You feel excited and invincible after a win, then anxious, depressed, or angry after a loss. Over time, these cycles can worsen anxiety and depression.
6. Gambling is affecting work, school, or home
You are distracted at work, missing deadlines, or skipping classes. At home, you may be less emotionally present, more irritable, or frequently preoccupied with the next game or bet.
7. You have tried to cut back and cannot
You promise yourself you will stop or set strict limits, yet find yourself betting again. Feeling unable to reduce or quit, even when you want to, is a strong sign that more structured help could be useful.
If several of these signs fit, it does not mean you are “weak” or “irresponsible.” Problem gambling is a health condition that affects the brain’s reward system, decision-making, and impulse control.
How gambling problems affect mental health and family life
Problem gambling is closely linked with:
- Anxiety and depression
- High stress and sleep problems
- Shame, guilt, and isolation
- Relationship conflict and breakups
- Serious financial strain and legal problems
Research and clinical experience show that people with gambling disorder have higher rates of suicidal thoughts and attempts than the general population, especially when combined with other mental health or substance use conditions.
Family members may notice:
- Secretive or defensive behavior about money
- Unpaid bills, debt collectors, or missing funds
- Sudden mood swings related to games or bets
- Less time or emotional availability for children or partners
In Region Five, that might look like a parent in Hampton who is always “checking the score” during dinner, a young adult in Virginia Beach using student loan money to bet on games, or a partner in Portsmouth who keeps promising to stop but continues to gamble after every paycheck.
Practical steps if you are worried about your own gambling
If you are beginning to worry that your betting is out of control, here are small but important steps you can take:
- Name the problem honestly. Even saying to yourself, “My gambling is hurting me” is a meaningful first step.
- Track your time and money. Write down what you are spending and how long you are on apps each day. Seeing the numbers in black and white can cut through denial.
- Limit access. Consider deleting apps, using built-in gambling blocks or banking limits, or asking a trusted person to hold cards or cash for a period of time.
- Tell someone you trust. Pick one person who will listen without judgment and let them know what is going on. Secrecy fuels gambling problems.
- Reach out to a helpline or counselor. You do not have to wait until things are severe.
The National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-MY-RESET / 1-800-522-4700 in many areas) connects callers to local support, information, and treatment options.
In Virginia, the Problem Gambling Help Line is available at 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-888-532-3500 and is described by DBHDS as a free, confidential way to get support and referrals.
Where to get gambling help in Virginia and Region Five
You do not need to figure this out alone. Several Virginia-based resources are focused specifically on problem gambling:
- Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Problem Gambling Support. This state resource explains problem gambling, lists warning signs, and provides information about treatment and prevention efforts across Virginia. (link)
- Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health (VPGH). Based at Virginia Commonwealth University, VPGH coordinates a treatment and recovery network for people affected by problem gambling and connects Virginians with counseling, peer support, and community education. (link)
- Virginia Problem Gambling Help Line. The statewide helpline, accessible through 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-888-532-3500, offers confidential support and referrals. An Eastern Shore Community Services Board article explains how this helpline works and what to expect when you call.
In Region Five, your local Community Services Board can help you address both problem gambling and related mental health or substance use concerns. The nine CSBs in our region serve communities across Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, Western Tidewater, the Middle Peninsula, the Northern Neck, and the Eastern Shore.
Your CSB can:
- Provide a mental health and substance use assessment
- Connect you with outpatient counseling or psychiatric services
- Refer you to specialized problem gambling resources funded through state initiatives
- Help family members access education and support
You can find contact information for Region Five CSBs on the CSB Locations page of the Region Five website or through the statewide CSB locator.
When gambling and mental health feel like a crisis
If gambling problems have led to thoughts of suicide, self-harm, or harm to others, or if you feel you are in immediate danger:
- Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Trained counselors are available 24/7 for emotional support and safety planning.
- If there is an immediate threat to life, call 911 and say you are experiencing a mental health emergency.
After the immediate crisis, Region Five’s continuum of care, including local CSBs and crisis services, can help you work toward longer-term recovery.
Problem gambling can be painful and isolating. It is also treatable. Reaching out for help is not a failure. It is a decision to protect your wellbeing, your relationships, and your future.
