INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s state-funded gambling treatment program has helped more gambling addicts this year than ever before, but gambling opponents say the state needs to do more.

The Hoosier Assurance Plan — a mental-health program — has served 414 people so far this fiscal year. By this time last year, 376 people had sought help.

John Viernes, deputy director of the Office of Addictions in the Family and Social Services Administration, said the state is budgeting enough money to serve 560 problem gamblers next year.

“There’s been an increase in the availability of gaming venues — both the riverboats and on the Internet,” he said.

The state spends $4.25 million a year to help those with addictions, with the money coming from admission taxes on casinos.

The Division of Mental Health spends about one-quarter of that on gambling treatment, with $2.6 million more going for treatment for other addictions.

Next year, the state expects to spend $350,000 more on gambling.

At the same time, less money is going to publicize the hot line that helps direct problem gamblers to local service providers.

Advocates for problem gamblers say the state needs to do more to help addicts.

A few years ago, the state was spending nearly $1 million on problem gambling outreach that included television, radio and billboard advertising.

Some of those ads focused on sports betting and that did not seem to have much of an impact, said Jerry Long, executive director of the Indiana Council on Problem Gambling.

The state currently does not fund radio and television ads to promote problem-gambling services or the hot line, which this fiscal year has received 1,588 calls — an increase of more than 20 percent over the same period last year.

The state does require casinos to put up signs and provide other information to advertise the hot line number, which is also printed on the back of casino and horse racing tickets, as well as lottery tickets.

Only people at 200 percent of the federal poverty level and below qualify for gambling addiction assistance — the same income guidelines used for other mental-health and addiction services.

Cathy Boggs, director of the state’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction, said documented debt is considered in the calculation for gambling assistance. She said people who don’t qualify for state-funded services can still pay for help from 18 community-based agencies.

Posted 6/20/2006