When Kentucky lawmakers approved sports betting, they set up the state's first problem gambling fund.

It's meant to bring awareness and treatment to those who might have a gambling disorder.

But as Kentucky editions June Lefler reports, advocates say more help is needed right now.

Boulware Mission in Owensboro, Kentucky, is a residential program for men.

Ron Slim Clark counsels these men on their drug and alcohol addictions.

But she also screens for and educates them on gambling problems.

The brain doesn't see it really much differently as far as the dopamine it releases than it does with using different substances.

So after that big win, however much that is few hundred, few thousand, you go back because you want to chase that dopamine feeling.

Then you want to go back and get some more math.

Yeah, you wouldn't chase that dopamine failing.

The National Council on problem Gambling estimates just 1% of adults in the U.S.. Have developed a gambling disorder and another 2 to 3% have a gambling problem.

John Arnett developed a gambling disorder in his fifties.

I was extremely lucky the first year I gambled.

And what I've learned from Gamblers Anonymous, that's the worst thing that can happen to someone.

Because if you lose a lot when you began your entire school and bought right away, whereas if you win, your interest will pay.

And the consequences of problem gambling are arguably as devastating as those from a substance use disorder.

The least that you have to lose is money.

The most you have to lose is reputation, livelihood, employment, freedom.

And more than that.

Of all the mental illnesses that are out there schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, gambling disorder has the highest rate of suicide.

One in five individuals with a gambling problem will attempt or complete suicide.

Arnett eventually found help through Gamblers Anonymous in Kentucky.

And you draw strength from attending those sessions and discussing your issues with people that are there.

Anyone with concerns can take a quick self-assessment online or call one 800 gambler, which is answered by counselors here in Kentucky.

24 seven.

The callers can be completely anonymous.

We can offer you just listening support, general.

Kind of try to let the person vent or talk about whatever it is that they're experiencing.

We can also provide them with tangible resources.

Including contacts for seven open gamblers, anonymous groups, and seven active certified gambling counselors in the state.

Since the advent of sports betting, calls to the hotline have increased.

So almost 300% increase this month from last year.

This month.

So December of 22 to 23, we've seen almost a three fold increase.

Sports betting isn't new, but legal Online gaming is likely expanding how people get treated.

A guy at one time who played in a major SEC school and became hurt and ended up really his life took a downward spiral and he was gambling quite a bit.

He told me, he said, I bet on every down in every game if you watch When we approached the Super Bowl soon there will be so many different things you can bet on.

Aside from the coin toss, who's going to win the coin toss?

Who's going to be the starting quarterback?

What their uniforms are going to look like?

Who's going to score first?

Who's going to make the most first downs?

There's just so many different ways.

When state lawmakers approved sports betting, they also set up the state's first ever problem gambling fund.

2.5% of sports betting revenue is earmarked for this fund.

That should total about $100,000 a month based on initial earnings.

But that money won't be available for quite some time.

And we don't anticipate that money will be available until well into 2024.

With contributions from the gaming industry.

The Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling is using its resources to train more counselors.

We are trying to increase the number of certified gambling counselors because we anticipate a wave of problem gambling surfacing in 2024 with the advent of the sports betting in the state.

Mike Stone was recruiting at a regional counseling conference in the fall.

It is as much a geographic concern as it is a numerical concern.

There's one counselor in eastern Kentucky.

There are three in Owensboro.

There are two in Louisville.

That means that there are none in Lexington.

There's none in northern Kentucky.

There's none in Bowling Green.

There's none in Paducah.

There's no.

But there's gambling all over the state.

For stone, this is a race against time.

While the money from the state isn't coming any time soon, sports betting is well underway and it's not slowing down.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm June Leffler.

Again, the problem Gaming Gambling Helpline is one 800 gambler.

Tomorrow, we'll bring you a third story on sports betting and how college campuses are talking about it.