CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – As football season begins, so too does an increase in sports betting. In the United States, the NFL is the most popular sport for betting, according to Shelia Moran, director of Marketing and Communications with WV’s Problem Gambling Help Network.

While many people can place the occasional bet without severe consequences, for some the betting becomes more.

According to Moran, nearly 1,200 West Virginians reached out for help with a gambling problem last year.

Moran said the state’s gambling helpline received an influx of calls over the last year and they anticipate more in the coming months.

Data, according to Moran, shows the number of calls to the gambling helpline has doubled in the last year.

“This is becoming more common,” Moran said.

She encourages anyone seeking assistance to “feel confident when reaching out.”

Moran says there has been a significant shift in the demographics of callers.

“We used to get more calls from women and middle-aged people when most played slots or video poker machines. Now, most callers use mobile devices to bet, either casino games or sports, and we get more calls from younger men.”

For those who gamble, the Help Network suggests using these guidelines:

· Treat the money you lose as the cost of entertainment and any winnings as a bonus.

· Plan ahead. Set a money and time limit, and stick to them. If gambling online, take advantage of the app’s responsible gambling features, which allow time and money limits.

· Avoid chasing lost money.

· Keep track of the amount wagered and money won and lost. Many features in games make you feel like you are ahead, but accurate accounting may tell a different story.

Anyone experiencing problem gambling issues can call or text 1-800-GAMBLER or chat online at 1800Gambler.net

Copyright 2024 WSAZ. All rights reserved.

WASHINGTON — The presidential campaigns are rushing ahead this week without missing a beat, despite numerous law enforcement agencies investigating a possible assassination attempt Sunday on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, was looking to pick up an endorsement from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters during a private sit-down interview with the organization on Monday before heading to several campaign stops later this week.

Trump, the GOP nominee, whose campaign is fundraising off a gunman putting an AK-47 through the fence at his Florida golf course before being confronted by the Secret Service, is expected to continue his regular schedule.

Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, will be on the campaign trail as well, after making headlines this weekend when he seemingly admitted making up a story about Haitian immigrants in Ohio before doubling down on the false claim.

“If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do,” Vance said during a combative interview with Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Vance then insisted that he’s repeating concerns from his constituents, despite public officials and police officers in Ohio saying there’s no evidence of immigrants eating geese or cats.

“I say that we’re creating a story, meaning we’re creating the American media focusing on it,” Vance added.

Vance’s comments and repeated criticism of Harris came shortly after her campaign released a list of 17 Reagan administration officials endorsing her bid for the Oval Office.

“Our votes in this election are less about supporting the Democratic Party and more about our resounding support for democracy,” they wrote. “It’s our hope that this letter will signal to other Republicans and former Republicans that supporting the Democratic ticket this year is the only path forward toward an America that is strong and viable for our children and grandchildren for years to come.”

Ken Adelman, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and U.S. arms control director; Carol Adelman, USAID assistant administrator; Robert Thompson, senior staff economist at the Council of Economic Advisers; Gahl Burt, White House social secretary; B. Jay Cooper, deputy assistant to the president; Kathleen Shanahan, a staff assistant at the National Security Council; and Pete Souza, official White House photographer were among those from the Reagan administration to publicly voice their support for Harris.

NABJ chat, stops in swing states

Tuesday’s campaign schedule shows a packed day of public events for all the major campaign names.

• Harris is expected to attend a fireside chat with the National Association of Black Journalists in Philadelphia, months after Trump’s on-stage panel interview with three NABJ journalists stirred up controversy within the organization and made headlines for Trump’s responses to their questions.

• Trump will host a town hall in Flint, Michigan moderated by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, his former press secretary, during the evening. Trump also abruptly announced an XSpaces event for Monday night at 8 p.m. Eastern on the social media platform.

• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, running mate to Harris, is expected to attend events in Macon and Atlanta, Georgia. He’ll then head to Asheville, North Carolina to give a stump speech.

• Vance is expected to speak at a rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Also on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Denise Page Hood will hear arguments on whether Robert F. Kennedy’s Jr.’s name should be removed from Michigan’s ballot.

“Before a court may issue a temporary restraining order, it should be assured that the movant has produced compelling evidence of irreparable and imminent injury and that the movant has exhausted reasonable efforts to give the adverse party notice,” Hood wrote.

Kennedy, who suspended his bid for the Oval Office last month, had requested an immediate ruling, which the judge denied.

It has been an uneasy start to the season for the West Virginia Mountaineers, dropping two of its first three games to regional rivals Penn State and Pitt. WVU had a 10-point lead with three minutes and some change in the Backyard Brawl this past weekend but was unable to reach the finish line.

This week, they’ll return home to take on a Kansas team that has been equally disappointing dropping two straight games to Illinois and UNLV.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, West Virginia is a 2.5-point favorite with the over/under currently at 57.5

The Mountaineers are 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games played.

The total has gone OVER in eight of the last 11 West Virginia games.

West Virginia is 8-1 straight up in the last nine meetings against Kansas.

West Virginia has covered the first quarter spread in nine of their last 13 games.

The Mountaineers have hit the first half moneyline in six of their last seven games.

The total has gone OVER in six of the last 7 times Kansas has played West Virginia.

The Jayhawks are 4-0-1 against the spread in their last five trips to Morgantown.

The total has gone OVER in six of the Jayhawks’ last 13 games.

Kansas is 2-9 straight up against West Virginia since WVU joined the Big 12.

Odds Disclaimer

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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