West Virginia’s New App Connects Problem Gamblers for Support

A New Tool for Gambling Addiction

The Problem Gambling Help Network of West Virginia (PGHNWV) launched the Connections App, offering a fresh way for West Virginians struggling with gambling addiction to find support.

Built by CHESS Health and adapted from its substance use disorder platform, the app lets users connect with others facing similar challenges.

“We were missing a way for people to connect,” said Sheila Moran, First Choice Services’ marketing director. With calls to PGHNWV’s 1-800-GAMBLER hotline doubling recently, the app addresses a growing need.

How the App Works

The Connections App mirrors the format of CHESS Health’s substance use disorder app, fostering peer support for problem gamblers.

Users can share experiences with others who understand their struggles, creating a community available anytime. “About one in fifty people have a gambling problem,” Moran noted, highlighting the surge in online gambling, casinos, and lotteries.

Signing up takes 30 seconds via PGHNWV’s website form, which triggers a text with download details, or by calling 1-800-GAMBLER for hotline assistance.

Tackling a Growing Issue

PGHNWV, a First Choice Services program, developed the app to combat rising gambling addiction fueled by online platforms. Moran said the hotline’s call volume has more than doubled, reflecting the state’s expanding gambling options.

The Connections App aims to fill a gap by linking West Virginians in need, offering a space to connect with peers who get what they’re going through.