The Virginia Lottery is marking National Problem Gambling Awareness Month by releasing a new PSA focusing on the importance of knowing one’s limits and not playing beyond one’s means.

And herein lies the problem we have as a society with lotteries and gambling in general.

They bring in a lot of money; they also cause quite a few people a lifetime of heartache.

“At the Virginia Lottery, we want to remove the stigma around gambling and put a focus on promoting responsible play,” Virginia Lottery Executive Director Khalid Jones said. “National Problem Gambling Awareness Month provides us with an opportunity to highlight resources available to Virginians who might need support in how they engage with this form of entertainment. Our goal is to encourage healthy, informed choices among Virginians who choose to gamble.”

The Virginia Lottery works closely with the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling, including funding the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-888-532-3500.

The Helpline, operated by VCPG and funded by the Lottery, is toll-free, confidential and available 24/7 via phone, text or chat.

“As online and mobile gambling become more accessible, recognizing the signs of problem gambling is more critical than ever,” said Dr. Carolyn Hawley, president of VCPG. “Anyone can be affected, and ensuring immediate access to support is essential.”

The Virginia Lottery administers the state’s Voluntary Exclusion Program, which allows people to exclude themselves (for two years, five years, or lifetime) from participating in certain legalized gambling in Virginia, whether regulated by the Virginia Lottery, the Virginia Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs, or the Virginia Racing Commission.

This includes account-based Virginia Lottery games; online sports betting; charitable gaming (raffle, bingo, network bingo, and instant bingo); betting on horse racing (live racing, off-track betting, historical horse racing); and advance deposit account wagering.

It would be interesting to know how many people actually participate in this program.

I tried the link, and it went to an error page.

A portion of the tax revenue from Lottery-regulated gaming entities (sports betting and casinos) is directed to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, which provides ongoing financial support for problem gambling in the Commonwealth.

This funding source is administered by Virginia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for gambling addiction treatment.