Rural areas have limited gambling support, need solutions

Key Points

• Access to gambling addiction specialized care has been limited in rural areas of the U.S.

• In-person treatment options are not logistically feasible for everyone who needs support

• Modern virtual therapy solutions can remove barriers to gambling-specific treatment

• Online counseling with certified gambling addiction counselors can provide effective nationwide support

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In the United States’ historical hub for gambling, Nevada, it is not surprising that over 151,000 slot machines are available for play. While many of these are located in Clark County, the home of Las Vegas, there are thousands of other opportunities to gamble across the state, including the most rural and isolated parts of Nevada. Unfortunately, access to gambling products is much easier than support for gambling addiction, especially in sparsely populated areas.

Rural Nevada Counseling Executive Director Josh Cabral speaks to the difficulties of finding therapists to staff the “middle of nowhere” parts of Nevada. Cabral went on to say that he has paid therapists thousands of dollars, moving bonuses and other incentives just to get quality candidates to work in these remote locations. This problem is not limited to Nevada and speaks to a nationwide issue that modern virtual solutions to accessing specialized care hope to resolve. 

Traditional problem gambling support options 

Many of the traditional treatment options for gambling addiction have generally required some degree of in-person commitment, depending on the level of support being offered. While highly populated areas may have multiple options available, rural areas may lack traditional resources for those struggling with gambling.  

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is a peer-support group that follows the 12-step methodology to help those struggling with gambling addiction. While the shared experiences of the group and free access to meetings can be highly beneficial, there are challenges for those in rural areas to attend in-person meetings. GA meetings are held at set locations and times, which may not be realistic for people who have to travel far distances to attend or have other commitments, such as work, during those times. 

In-person counseling

In-person counseling for gambling addiction can help provide professional insight into triggers that impact gambling behaviors and work to develop healthier coping mechanisms. In-person therapy is a great option for gambling addiction, but may not be available in rural areas. Gambling addiction treatment should be conducted by a professional with relevant experience, which may be difficult to find in less populated areas. 

As Cabral noted, “Therapists don’t grow on trees… I’ve paid people thousands and thousands of dollars to move here. I’ve done hiring bonuses and moving incentives and different things to try to get people here, and that’s worked a little bit, but I would say recruitment of good staff is very difficult in rural communities.”

Inpatient rehab centers

Depending on the severity of an individual's gambling addiction, inpatient treatment may be necessary. Inpatient gambling treatment is structured similar to drug or alcohol rehab, since many individuals who struggle with gambling also have other mental health diagnoses as well. Inpatient facilities are typically located near major cities or areas that are easily accessible, which can mean little to no access to this level of residential support in rural areas. 

Modern solutions increasing access to to gambling addiction addiction treatment in rural areas

With technology, more modern solutions to accessing gambling specific support have become available in previously underserved areas. The COVID-19 pandemic specifically helped expand treatment options through telehealth and virtual therapy sessions for a multitude of mental health diagnoses. Many also saw first-hand during COVID times how effective online therapy can be. Virtual counseling has decreased barriers to care, in addition to increasing flexibility, anonymity and discreteness when seeking support. Teletherapy also reduces wait times for care, as therapists can be licensed in multiple states, therefore widening the pool of available specialized treatment. 

Birches Health is a modern provider of specialized therapy for behavioral and process addictions, focusing mainly on gambling disorder. Birches provides virtual support to individuals all over the U.S. including in all areas of Nevada. Their therapists are trained to treat a myriad of addictions and use evidence-based treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), mindfulness techniques and other proven approaches. Birches has therapists licensed across the entire U.S. that are specifically trained and certified in treating gambling addiction. 

To get started with Birches you can: 

• Book an appointment 

• Call 833-483-3838

• Email help@bircheshealth.com

Birches Health: Breaking down traditional barriers to treatment access 

Historically, there are three main barriers to accessing specialized gambling addiction treatment. Birches Health’s mission is to break down these blockers and make accessing top-quality care easy and affordable. The three barriers have been:

1. Limited number of specialized counselors: Birches Health has built up a massive nationwide team of therapists who are trained and certified to treat gambling addiction virtually. 

2. Costs: Historically, gambling addiction treatment could not be covered by insurance, and very few states offered financial assistance programs for it. Birches Health has partnered with all major insurance companies so clients with covered insurance plans only have to pay a small co-pay (or $0, depending on the plan) each session. Birches has also joined forces with state programs in certain locations that have allocated funds to help combat gambling addiction. 

3. In-person logistics: Birches Health offers fully virtual care from the comfort of home, which allows for more flexible scheduling and removes the logistical hurdles of needing to travel to a specific location for group support or other form of treatment. While some individuals prefer in-person counseling for the face-to-face connection that it provides, studies have shown that virtual care has comparable rates of effectiveness.