With the kickoff of the college men’s basketball tournament and sports betting becoming more prevalent in Iowa, health officials want to remind people that March is problem gambling awareness month. 

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) says this month alone, more than $8 billion is wagered on those games. According to IDPH data in 2019, 315,000 adult Iowans experienced at least one problem revolving around their gambling in the previous year. 

The common symptoms of problem gambling include lying to family members, friends or others to hide gambling activities; and losing jobs, relationships or education opportunities due to gambling. 

There are various services available to Iowans including outpatient counseling, recovery support services and financial counseling. For more information or help you can call 1-800-BETS OFF or online here.