Compass Mark is expanding its Pennsylvania work on problem gambling, focusing on education, prevention and early intervention as online sports betting becomes more widespread.
Deadspin reported that the Lancaster-based nonprofit is treating the move as a response to easier access to mobile wagering and concern that gambling harms can develop faster in local communities.
Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Lancaster, Compass Mark serves Lancaster, Lebanon and Chester counties through local offices and prevention programs. It says its mission is to reduce risk factors before problems develop.
The organisation works with schools, families, community groups and local governments on substance misuse and problem gambling. Its programming includes classroom education, youth development, professional training, public awareness work and referrals to treatment resources for people affected by alcohol, drugs or gambling.
Compass Mark’s website says the need is growing because gambling and gambling problems are rising in Pennsylvania. It says the state took in $7.7 billion in gambling revenue in 2025, up from $5.7 billion in 2023.
The same material says sports betting is the fastest-growing form of gambling in the state, and that advertising is hard to miss while phone-based play-by-play makes it difficult for people with risk factors to stay away. It also says one person with a gambling problem affects an average of six others, including children.
The nonprofit educates community members about warning signs such as chasing losses, hiding betting activity and gambling beyond one’s financial means. It also urges families to seek help early, noting that only a small share of people with gambling problems reach out for support.
Compass Mark says local groups are often well placed to respond because they understand the needs of the communities they serve. By working with residents, it argues, nonprofits can deliver targeted education, identify at-risk people earlier and connect them with support before harms become more severe.
Pennsylvania officials have moved on a similar front. The Gaming Control Board launched its “What’s Really at Stake” campaign to warn about young people gambling, using social media, online ads, a dedicated website and promotional materials.
The board tied that campaign to Problem Gambling Awareness Month and the start of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and said online gambling is meant for people 21 and older. It also warned that licensed operators have tools to block underage play, while illegal and unregulated sites do not.
In the same release, the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania said calls to the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline about young people in the state have increased in recent years. It said greater access to unregulated online gambling is helping drive more young people into problem gambling.
Other state agencies have built out their own messaging. The Gaming Control Board, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the Pennsylvania Lottery and the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania all marked March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month to push warning signs, treatment and recovery resources.
DDAP and the Department of Education later announced free online resources for parents and educators to help them understand what problem gambling is, recognise warning signs in children and find help. The toolkit is designed as a one-stop shop for guidance on youth gambling and on how to avoid gambling-related activity in classrooms.
The state’s treatment pages say Pennsylvania’s gambling helpline is free, confidential and available 24/7 by phone, text or online chat. They also point people to self-exclusion options, county-based treatment searches and telehealth support when local providers are not available.
