CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As its eighth anniversary approaches next month, the state Problem Gamblers Help Line has fielded calls from more than 7,000 gamblers, and helped many reduce or eliminate their gambling habits, a program director said Monday.

"What we do find is most of the people, about 75 percent, are able to stop or significantly cut down their gambling," said Sheila Moran of First Choice Health Systems.

Help line officials Monday released an analysis of its first 6,970 clients, from the program's inception in 2000 through June 30.

Moran said the data show that the typical caller to the help line is a far cry from the stereotypical gambling addict.

"The reality is, it's your mom, it's your sister," she said. "A middle-aged, full-time working woman with a high school degree is the typical caller for us."

During the eight years, the help line has had 3,543 female clients and 3,285 male clients, and most have been between the ages of 36 to 55.

Limited video lottery machines in bars and clubs across the state are by far the most common form of gambling for help line callers, accounting for 4,348 clients.

Racetrack video lottery at the four tracks in the state was second, accounting for 1,124 clients, following by all other forms of state Lottery games, including Powerball and Keno, at 524 clients.

So-called "gray machines" - which were outlawed in late 2001 under the law legalizing limited video lottery - accounted for 258 clients early in the help line's history. Card games are far back, at a total of 141 clients over eight years.

Moran said there has not been a detectable increase in that category since the introduction of table games at the Mountaineer and Wheeling Island racetrack/casinos late last year.
"I don't anticipate a big increase," she said. "It takes longer to get addicted to that type of gambling."

Likewise, Moran said there has not been a discernable increase in calls since the West Virginia Lottery logo was removed from help line advertising this spring, under legislation passed during the 2008 regular session. Critics argued that featuring the logo of the Lottery - which funds the help line - could deter gamblers from seeking help.

Calls to the help line have declined slightly for the past two years, she said.

Meanwhile, she said the downturn in the economy has had mixed impact on gamblers.

On one hand, it may leave many with less disposable income to spend on gambling, but Moran noted that the typical help line client gambles to escape his or her problems - including financial problems.

"Most of our calls are from 'escape' gamblers," she said.

She noted that two recent callers said financial woes - one had a house foreclosed, one lost his job - caused them to gamble more.

"It's like teenagers playing video games - they're trying to take their minds off their problems for a little while," she said.