March is National Problem Gambling Awareness Month and a Dallas County Health Department official outlines some of the warning signs.

Community Health Educator Natalie Del Vecchio says problem gambling is a type of addiction when someone is not able to control their urge to gamble, even when it causes negative consequences in their life, such as financial problems, relationship issues or emotional distress. She adds that it can occur with various forms of gambling, including casino games, sports betting, scratch cards and lottery tickets.

Del Vecchio discusses some of the warning signs of problem gambling.

“Some common warning signs to watch for include gambling with money that you can’t afford to lose, lying about the extent of gambling, feeling anxious or irritable when trying to stop. And then some other signs are using gambling to escape problems or borrowing money to gamble or just neglecting responsibilities like work or family obligations because of the gambling.”

She details that there are resources available in Iowa. Locally, Del Vecchio says residents can call Zion Integrated Behavioral Health in Perry at 515-465-9310. She adds that Your Life Iowa offers a screening tool along with other resources on their website.

Del Vecchio explains residents can also call 1-800 Bets Off, 1-800-238-7633, to access a free and confidential helpline for gambling addiction.