Gambling Awareness in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – Gambling continues to grow in Pennsylvania. Last month, the Gaming Control Board reported an all-time high in revenue. $529,000,000 generated in four weeks, that’s 10% more than last January.

With this record-breaking revenue comes concerns about gambling addiction. Experts say gambling is increasing because more people are struggling financially and are hoping to get some earnings.

But also, gambling has become more accessible on the internet. A joint press conference was held at the Capitol with Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Pennsylvania Lottery, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania, and David Yeager who is in long-term recovery from problem gambling.

“I’m an 11-year veteran of the United States Army. I am also a gambler in recovery,” said Yeager.

Yeager grew up in Pennsylvania and gambled in his twenties, “and had fun. I walked in with a certain amount of money. I walked out with a certain amount of money.”

Yeager’s gambling journey began after the events of 9/11.

“I was at the time on orders to go to the Republic of Korea and then 9/11 occurred. Flew over there. So, it’s a lot of stress, a lot of unknown,” said Yeager.  

While in Korea, he found a casino in a hotel on base.

“I sat down, and I started to play some of these machines, the first thing I noticed is my shoulders kind of relaxed a little,” said Yeager.

Yeager says he then made the biggest mistake for someone who could get a gambling addiction.

“I won. I didn’t break the bank. I didn’t get thrown out. But I won enough money in that moment that even standing here now, I can remember all of those feelings of stress, fear, anxiety, all of that in that moment washed away,” said Yeager.

Yeager says he didn’t leave the casino that night as a compulsive gambler.

“Over the course of three months that went from going on a Friday to going on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday to going basically seven days a week. That sprouted into me stealing from the government a very small amount. But I stole,” said Yeager.

The addiction then caused several issues over the next several years.

“Resulted in a divorce, resulted in the loss of my children for two years, resulted in four attempts on my own life. Because what was happening was this obsession to gamble was becoming so strong. I had no idea what was happening,” said Yeager.

After this, Yeager got help. He is now in recovery and has a message.

“There’s help available. It’s one of the more interesting things and I mentioned this before, is I just I did not think anybody could possibly understand what I was going through. There are people who can understand,” said Yeager. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can reach out to 1-800-426-2537 for resources available across the state.