Latest news with #NationalCouncilonProblemGambling
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Lottery player wins $550K from Hit 5 game in WA. Have you checked your ticket?
One lucky lottery player won a $550,000 Hit 5 prize in Washington. Now the player needs to come forward to claim their big prize. The massive prize was won in the June 4 drawing, according to Washington's Lottery. The ticket was sold in Raymond in Pacific County with winning numbers of 4, 12, 18, 32 and 33. The player has 180 days to claim their prize, the last day being December 1. Hit 5 is a popular game that costs $1 to play. Lottery players pick five numbers between 1 and 42 or choose the quick pick option for a random set of numbers. 'Cashpots start at $100,000 and keep growing until someone matches all five numbers to win!' according to the lottery site. The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 851,000. Raymond is about a 65-mile drive southwest from Olympia. Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website. Lottery player wins $439,000 prize in North Carolina. Where was the ticket sold? Dad gives lottery ticket as gift to daughter — and she wins life-changing prize Lottery player wins big — and plans to hit the mall. 'I'm refreshing my wardrobe'
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NY man's debt explodes to $100K in less than a year due to gambling — what Dave Ramsey told him to do ASAP
When Jelani from New York called into The Ramsey Show about his financial problems, he didn't sugarcoat his situation. "I owe over $100,000. I'm kind of lost right now,' he told finance personality Dave Ramsey in a clip posted May 28. 'I don't know if I should file [for] bankruptcy. I just need some advice," he told celebrity finance personality Dave Ramsey. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Jelani shared he owed around $80,000 in credit card debt, $8,500 in student loans and $11,500 on a car loan. His debt accumulated rapidly since Thanksgiving, when he only owed $30,000. A truck driver earning between $110,000 and $140,000 per year, Jelani revealed his debt stemmed mostly from gambling via an online dice game. Ramsey and co-host Jade Warshaw warned Jelani about the mental and financial toll of gambling and the mental traps it creates. "Typically, when you have something that's been such a big part of your life and your habits, just removing it is not enough — you have to replace it with something else," Warshaw said. Jelani admitted he quit gambling cold turkey and hadn't yet sought help through therapy or Gamblers Anonymous, prompting Ramsey to urge him to get support from someone who understands the sobriety process. As for a financial recovery plan, Ramsey laid out a no-frills approach: Create a 'scorched-earth, no life' recovery budget where all spending halts except for necessities and tackling debt. 'Eat peanut butter and jelly. Eat beans and rice. That's it,' Ramsey advised. List debts from smallest to largest and use the snowball method to pay them down aggressively. Pick up extra shifts at work and aim to increase income as much as possible. Ramsey emphasized the urgency of his plan: 'You need to do this in a year to 18 months because that indicates the intensity by which you're running straight into the problem and from the thing that caused the problem — the gambling.' Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Online gambling has grown in America. The American Gaming Association reports online casino revenue increased 28.7% in 2024 from a year earlier in the seven states with full-scale legal iGaming. That figure represents $8.41 billion in growth. Sports betting also went up nationwide in 2024, with revenue increasing 25.4% up to a record revenue of $13.71 billion. Sports betting's rise in recent years may largely be attributed to increased accessibility as more states have legalized the practice. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), an estimated 2.5 million adults in the U.S. meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem in any given year. The organization also notes around 85% of adults have gambled at least once in their lives, while 60% have gambled within the past year, and that some form of gambling is legal across 48 states and the District of Columbia. The NCPG outlines several key warning signs of gambling addiction, which include: Increasing thoughts about, or time and money spent on, gambling Feeling out of control, or continuing to gamble despite negative consequences Chasing losses, or continuing to gamble in an attempt to win back money Feeling restless or irritable when not gambling Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
He had a debilitating sports betting addiction but didn't realize it. His story's not uncommon.
He had a debilitating sports betting addiction but didn't realize it. His story's not uncommon. Show Caption Hide Caption A therapist explains how financial infidelity hurts relationships Financial infidelity can range from hiding a special purchase to concealing a crippling gambling addiction. To Sam DeMello's friends, it seemed like the then 26-year-old had everything together: a six-figure tech salary, an enviable workout regimen and a happy relationship. But as he crossed the finish line of the 2013 Nike San Francisco marathon, he was surrounded by a deep sense of self-loathing. His friends, family and girlfriend had no idea he was struggling with a crippling sports betting addiction. He fell into an addiction just a few weeks after being introduced to sports gambling, though he didn't realize it until years later. 'All of my friends would come to me and say, 'Congratulations, man, you're crushing it. We're so proud of you,'' DeMello says. 'I would just feel this dissonance, because I felt so fraudulent.' DeMello, now 38 and in recovery, wishes he saw the warning signals sooner. As legalized sports betting grows across the United States, a growing number of young men are falling into gambling addictions without recognizing the signs. Driven by the explosion of mobile betting platforms and a lack of age-targeted resources, many see betting as a form of entertainment or investing until it's too late. The problem, addiction experts say, is as serious as substance abuse and widely misunderstood — and it could be the next public health crisis for young people. 'In the last seven years, we've had expansion of gambling and sports betting to the point where it's not only just normalized, but it's embedded in everything we do in American culture,' says co director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program Dr. Timothy Fong '[Teens are] growing up thinking that sports entertainment is gambling.' Sports gambling addiction explained: Inside the high-stakes, high-risk world of sports betting and how it's gripping young men How the brain rationalizes addiction Addiction develops when a substance or behavior triggers the reward center of the brain. The rush of that activity — like hitting a parlay — sends a fast release of the pleasure-inducing chemical dopamine to the brain. Over time, this repeated behavior overwhelms the brain's reward pathways in a way that can permanently alter how it processes impulse control, pleasure and motivation. 'With substances, you're actually physically injecting something or inhaling it or somehow putting it into your body, whereas with problem gambling, it's all behavioral,' says Heather Eshleman, the prevention manager at the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling. That distinction has led to increased stigma. 'Gambling addiction is incredibly stigmatized, even more so than substance use disorder,' says Cait Huble of the National Council on Problem Gambling. 'A lot of people incorrectly still assume that it is a moral failing, lack of self control, when chemically, it's exactly the same as any other type of addiction.' Starting to gamble at a younger age and doing so more frequently are key factors that increase the risk of developing a gambling addiction, according to Fong. There's a large deficit in young adults' ability to deal with the highs and lows of gambling. Teenagers' executive functioning, abstract thinking and decision-making skills continue to develop through age 25. 'A (teenager's) brain doesn't have impulse control. It doesn't have the ability to recover from losses quickly,' Fong says. 'It knows, 'I want money, I want excitement, I want things that my friends have. I want to prove that I'm super cool to my friends.' ' Young men often view gambling as a hobby During the height of his addiction, DeMello's life revolved around scheduled sports games. He gambled on his phone during the elevator rides down from the $150-an-hour therapy sessions he booked. He would check his wagers before he put on his clothes after the deprivation flotation tank sessions he bought to relax his mind. And when he attended Burning Man as an escape, the last thing he did before he lost cell service was see if his bets won. Still, DeMello didn't understand he had an addiction. Gambling addictions, he thought, were for guys spending their last $5 at the horse track, not him. He never put charges on his credit card that he didn't pay back, and he didn't borrow money from anyone. 'That kept me in addiction for probably seven years,' DeMello says. Like DeMello, many young men view gambling as a hobby or way to engage with their favorite sports team. After a 2018 Supreme Court overturning of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) turned regulation of betting over to the states, a boom in legalization followed. Today, sports betting is legal in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Sportsbooks became accessible in young adults' pockets all day, every day. A multi-million dollar advertising blitz quickly followed legalization, reaching millions of American teens who watch sports. There is no federal legislation specific to sports betting advertisements, leaving the field unregulated compared to laws that restrict ads for traditional gambling. Young adults over the age of 18 can gamble with units as small as $5 or $10. And online sportsbook apps like DraftKings and FanDuel offer incentives for new customers to bet seemingly risk-free. 'I see a lot of young people who come in, get exposed to the gambling and have a means to gamble with a little bit, and then that activates the addiction,' Fong says. Huble says that part of the problem is that young people don't recognize activities like raffles, bingo and fantasy sports as gambling. While 92% of those 65 or older consider betting on sports outcomes to be gambling, the figure drops to 50% when looking at 18 to 24 year olds, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling's 2021 NGAGE survey of public attitudes toward gambling. DeMello tried upwards of 50 times to quit cold turkey, and he would make it two or three days before he relapsed. He lived with his fiancée for a year without her knowing. But he eventually developed an alcohol and drug problem as a result of his gambling addiction — something gambling experts say is common. 'It's always the same story with other addictive disorders, that they run together with mental health,' Fong says. 'The chicken leads to the egg, and the egg leads to the chicken.' Gambling is easier than ever. Report warns it's a global 'threat to public health.' 'I did not think that I had an addiction' As DeMello lost control over his gambling, he punished himself in other ways — refusing to buy groceries, manically tracking calories or pushing himself to exhaustion in the gym. Over the 10 years when addiction ruled his life, he estimates that he lost between $500,000 and $1 million. 'We talk about gambling being the hidden addiction, because it's really easy to hide from other people, but it's also really easy to hide from yourself,' DeMello says. 'I did not think that I had an addiction.' When DeMello tried traditional methods for treating addiction, he felt isolated. When he started attending therapy, his therapist's prodding about his childhood trauma didn't resonate — he was acutely aware of his privilege growing up in Oakland in the '90s. He figured he'd try a Gamblers Anonymous meeting. But he was the youngest person in the room by 30 years and gave up after six months. 'I walked out of my first therapy appointment and said, 'Oh, this isn't for me. This is for people with real problems,'' DeMello says. To correct that understanding, experts like Fong and Eshleman say responsible gambling education needs to start much younger. What parents, young people need to know about sports betting addictions Gambling prevention materials haven't caught up to the industry's boom and receive less support compared to mandated education on cannabis, tobacco and alcohol use. Unlike other mental health and addiction services, there are no federal agencies that oversee problem gambling. As a result, gambling prevention is left to the states. 'When you look at how many young people just dive into this behavior, they dive into it really with very little training or education. There's no owner's manual, right? There's no teacher, as it were, to show them how to gamble responsibly,' Fong says. When it comes to recovery resources, DeMello says gambling harm reduction advocates need to show up for young people in a digital environment, where the stigma of having to pick up the phone and call somebody is a barrier. He founded Evive, a digital therapy app specific to gambling, to fill a gap in age and technology. Based out of Boston, health authorities in Oregon, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Virginia and Nevada have partnered with the app. In the meantime, Fong and DeMello say conversations about sports betting can start at home, where adults should advocate for responsible habits. 'It needs to become part of the American Zeitgeist that you talk to your kids about sex and drugs and gambling,' DeMello says. Young adults struggling with responsible gambling can text or call National Problem Gambling Helpline 24 hours a day at 800-GAMBLER or find a Gamblers Anonymous meeting. Rachel Hale's role covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach her at rhale@ and @rachelleighhale on X.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Powerball player misses $190 million jackpot in Washington — but still wins big
A Powerball player in Washington won $1 million, just missing the $190 million jackpot, lottery officials say. The ticket matched five winning numbers but not the Powerball in the drawing Wednesday, May 28, Washington's Lottery said. Two Powerball tickets sold in California won $1.3 million each. California adjusts lottery prizes based on the number of tickets sold and number of winners. Nobody won the grand prize, which rises to an estimated $207 million, with a cash value of about $91 million, for the next drawing Saturday, May 31, the national Powerball site said. The winning numbers were 23, 27, 32, 35 and 59, with a Powerball of 11, the lottery said. The Power Play multiplier was 2x. More than 385,000 other Powerball tickets sold in the United States also won prizes ranging from $4 to $50,000, the lottery said. The Powerball jackpot was last won April 26, when a Kentucky player hit the $167 million grand prize, lottery officials said. To score a jackpot in the Powerball, a player must match all five white balls and the red Powerball. The odds of scoring the jackpot prize are 1 in 292,201,338. Tickets can be bought on the day of the drawing, but sales times and price vary by state. Drawings are broadcast Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:59 p.m. ET and can be streamed online. Powerball is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website. What are the luckiest states to play Powerball? Here's where players hit the jackpot Lottery player thinks she won $1,000 in Virginia — but she missed some zeros Months after winning $10,000 in lottery, Maryland woman scores much bigger prize
Miami Herald
06-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Woman buys soda, lottery ticket on ‘crummy day' — then prize turns things around
National Woman buys soda, lottery ticket on 'crummy day' — then prize turns things around A Missouri woman turned a bad day around when she scratched off a huge lottery win. GETTY IMAGES A woman was on her way home after a 'crummy day' at work when she decided to treat herself to a soda and a Missouri lottery ticket in hopes of making her day better. She went home and scratched off the '$5,000,000 Fortune' ticket she purchased in O'Fallon, but she didn't believe what the ticket revealed. The woman's day turned around when she saw she had won the top $5 million prize, lottery officials said in an April 23 news release. 'I was just like, 'Is this real?'' she told officials. 'I called my son to let him take a look.' Her son was equally as shocked and also didn't believe she had really won millions of dollars. Though her son told her the ticket had to be fake, the woman took a closer look. 'I knew it was real,' she told officials. O'Fallon is about a 30-mile drive northwest from downtown St. Louis. Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website. Kate Linderman mcclatchy-newsroom Go to X Email this person Kate Linderman covers national news for McClatchy's real-time team. She reports on politics and crime and courts news in the Midwest. Kate is a 2023 graduate of DePaul University and is based in Chicago.
