Reno problem gambling center adds in-person treatment

A Reno problem gambling center, the Dr. Robert Hunter International Problem Gambling Center, has expanded its services to include in-person consultations for people affected by gambling harm. Enrollees attend four three-hour sessions a week for six weeks with an in-house clinician.

Executive director Stephanie Goodman told local outlet KTVN – 2 News that the sessions help participants understand how their brains work and why they became addicted. She said people with gambling problems are far more likely to face negative consequences or die by suicide, which makes timely intervention critical.

“You’re not weak. You actually have a biological disorder that is causing you to have this problem,” Stephanie Goodman, Problem Gambling Center executive director.

Nevada gambling addiction figures run well above the U.S. average

A recent study, as cited by GamblingNews, put the share of Nevada residents with a gambling problem at around 15%. Data from the National Council on Problem Gambling shows the number of Nevadans with a gambling addiction is 7.5 times higher than the 2% US national average. People looking to leave addiction behind carried an average debt of $32,000.

Of the 65% of Nevada residents who said they had gambled in the past year, 21% fell into the most severe risk category. Casino workers, African Americans, Latinos and men under 24 are more likely to land in that category.

Goodman also pointed to prediction markets as a growing concern. Opponents of platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket argue that their contracts can be indistinguishable from sports betting. They add that these companies often lack the customer protections required of traditional gambling operators, which could lower consumers’ perception of risk.

“Prediction markets are incredibly predatory in marketing by young men,” Goodman said.

Goodman advised all active gamblers to watch for signs of addiction and to seek help when necessary.