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State of Play’s TL;DR
- The problem gambling helpline in Virginia has seen a more than 2,000% increase in calls in the last six years.
- Interestingly, about two of every 10 callers are 55 or older.
Virginia’s problem gambling helpline has seen calls rise by more than 2,000% between 2019 and 2025, with adults 55 and older now making up 2 out of every 10 intakes, according to a WDBJ report citing the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling (VCPG).
The report points to a growing late-life gambling problem in the state, driven in part by easier access through smartphones and compounded by isolation, grief, and loneliness.
Helpline calls are up 39% since 2024, while intakes from those calls have increased 50%.
Mobile access and isolation are key risk factors
Willard Robertson, executive director of the VCPG, told WDBJ that “social isolation, loss, loneliness, and grief are key predictors of late-life gambling issues.” He also said those issues are often tied to other problems, including substance misuse and mental health challenges.
“I think the biggest factor right now is accessibility. More seniors are discovering how to do more with their phone and on their phone.”
The report included accounts from Virginians who said gambling escalated from more traditional products into always-available digital play. Bobbi Jo Brown of Danville said her gambling progressed from bingo to the Virginia Lottery and then to online slots on her phone.
Brown told WDBJ she once won $30,000 playing slots but “gambled every cent back.” She said the ease of moving money quickly into gambling accounts made the problem worse, and that the threat of foreclosure ultimately pushed her to seek help.
She said this month marks three years since she last gambled.
Helen Hinton of Virginia Beach said she gambled for 20 years after her husband died and later struggled even more after her son’s death in 2013. Hinton said recovery required counseling, meetings, and support from others.
The report is another sign that responsible gambling concerns are not limited to younger or digitally native users. In Virginia, older adults are making up a meaningful share of those seeking treatment as mobile access expands.
Anyone in Virginia who thinks they may have a gambling problem can call the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-888-532-3500.
Based on reporting by Natalie Faunce for WDBJ.
