Help on gambling is just a call away
The West Virginia 1-800-GAMBLER helpline, operated by First Choice Services, is seeing its busiest year yet. The number of callers seeking help has increased tremendously since the legalization of mobile sports betting and online casino gaming, helpline officials said.
'Every year I say it's the busiest year, and every year, the real calls keep going up,' helpline representative Sheila Moran said. 'The demographics have shifted. It used to be mostly middle-aged women calling. Now it's overwhelmingly younger men, especially in college towns like Morgantown.'
With a university, a strong sports culture and students experiencing independence for the first time, Morgantown has become a hotspot for gambling activity. Many callers began betting casually only to find themselves hooked after a big win, Moran said.
'That early high is dangerous. People do not realize how addicting it can be to feel like a winner,' Moran said. 'It's not about money. It's about chasing that feeling.'
The 1-800-GAMBLER line offers free, confidential support 24/7. Unlike some national services that have moved toward automation, this helpline still connects callers to real people. The support is widespread and something for each person's comfort level.
There are counselor-led support groups, one-on-one therapy with licensed professionals, peer support with others in long-term recovery, self-help resources like podcasts and books, and a new mobile app called PG Connections to connect users with anonymous peer support across the state.
First Choice Services also works with family members who may be affected by a loved one's gambling. Parents concerned about their children — or children concerned about their parents — are welcome to call for guidance.
'Ten years ago, if you asked people if they knew someone with a gambling problem, you'd get a few raised hands,' said Moran. 'Now, every hand in the room goes up and everyone has a story.'
The organization has also begun outreach in high schools, where gambling is becoming more common among teens.
The helpline can be reached by calling or texting 1-800-GAMBLER or visiting 1800gambler.net to chat with a real person online.
'We want people to know that recovery is possible,' Moran said. 'You don't have to hit rock bottom before reaching out. We are here to help at any stage.'
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Miami Herald
22-06-2025
- Miami Herald
Columbus' Moran and Doral's Viruet are the Miami-Dade Overall Coaches of the Year
Both the Columbus boys' basketball team and the Doral Academy softball team shone brightly at a national level seldom, if ever, achieved by a Miami-Dade County team in their respective sports. Columbus' coach Andrew Moran helped build a state championship dynasty, which set a state milestone and achieved something never done in the long and storied history of Dade boys' basketball when they won a national title. And at Doral, Willie Viruet has built one of the most dominant programs in the sport in recent memory and capped this stellar season with a state championship. Moran and Viruet are the Miami Herald's Miami-Dade County Overall Sports Coaches of the Year for the 2024-25 season. Moran is the Boys' Sports Coach of the Year after leading the Explorers to their fourth consecutive state title and their first national championship. Led by their star twins, Cameron and Cayden Boozer, Columbus became only the second team in Miami-Dade County history, joining Miami Norland, to win four consecutive state titles. They took things up a notch after the season when they became the first Dade team to win the prestigious 16th annual Chipotle Nationals, cementing their No. 1 national ranking. They are the first Dade boys' basketball program to secure a national title. Moran, who joined new University of Miami head coach Jai Lucas' staff after the season, led the Explorers to a 138-32 record during his six seasons at Columbus and 109-13 over the past four seasons. Moran, who has won five state titles overall, was also named the Naismith Boys' Basketball National Coach of the Year. 'It's obviously amazing and an incredible feeling,' Columbus coach Andrew Moran said after the Explorers' title-clinching win at Chipotle Nationals. 'It's the cherry on top. These kids won everything they set their minds to win. It was always their mindset and they played their (butts) off. It's an incredible feeling.' Doral Academy had been seeking a similar feeling for years. But despite setbacks at the state final four in recent years, Viruet has kept his team as the best in South Florida and one of the best in the state overall. Viruet is the Coach of the Year for Girls' Sports. This season, the Firebirds finally ended their six-year state title drought, winning their second state title ever and losing only one game all season. Viruet's team, led by University of Texas commit Anabela Abdullah and Clemson signee Sarah Breaux, spent the season ranked among the best in the nation and finished ranked No. 3 in the country by MaxPreps. 'It's been six years since we won a state title. We were long overdue,' Doral coach Willie Viruet said after the state final victory over Santa Rosa Pace. 'The community, the school, well, I think we deserved it.' BOYS' SPORTS FINALISTS ▪ Frankie Ruiz, Belen Jesuit cross-country: The running dynasty for the Wolverines continued to reach new heights as they secured their eighth consecutive state title and once again finished among the top 10 teams in the nation. ▪ Anthony Shahbaz, Riviera Prep basketball: Despite having their top player transfer out in the offseason and having two key players suffer season-ending injuries late in the regular season, Shahbaz steered his team to a historic third consecutive state title in Class 2A. ▪ David Fanshawe, Miami Springs baseball: Fanshawe led the Hawks to a historic first state title for their program and first for their school in any sport since 1988 when they won the Class 3A championship. ▪ Teddy Bridgewater, Northwestern football: Bridgewater returned to his alma mater with a goal of restoring their program to former glory. In one season, the Bulls accomplished their mission winning the Class 3A state championship in dominant fashion. ▪ Katia Garcia, Braddock swimming and diving: Following back-to-back state runner-up finishes, Garcia made sure the Bulldogs didn't settle for anything less than first place, winning their school's first state championship this past fall when they won the Class 4A title. ▪ Brandon Neifeld, Mater Lakes wrestling: After coming close in recent years, Neifeld led the Bears to their first ever state duals title in Class 1A and followed with a dominant performance to capture the 1A title in the individually-bracketed tournament. GIRLS' SPORTS FINALISTS ▪ Gator Rebhan, Somerset Silver Palms softball: Rebhan saw a five-year process culminate with the Stallions first state championship for their program and their school when they secured the Class 3A title. It was Rebhan's third after leading Palmetto to titles in 2000 and 2003. ▪ Julie Doan Kurenuma, Westminster Christian volleyball: After five years of leaving the state tournament with runner-up trophies and medals, Doan Kirenuma and her players finally celebrated a state championship when the Warriors won Class 2A. It was the school's third all-time and first since 2016. ▪ Ochiel Swaby, Miami Country Day basketball: Swaby's Spartans made it a decade of state titles when they won their third in a row and 10th overall, tying them for the most by any South Florida team. ▪ Dylan Hermelee, Carrollton track and field: In a sport often dominated by the larger schools, Hermelee guided the Cyclones to their first state championship. A squad of nine competitors made every point count as they edged Montverde Academy by half a point for the 2A team crown. ▪ Stephasia Doctor, Southridge basketball: Doctor spearheaded one of the most remarkable runs to the state tournament in recent memory by a Dade team when she coached a roster of just seven players within one victory of the school's first state title. ▪ Antonio Boada, Ransom Everglades soccer: After years of contending as one of the county's better programs, Boada's squad took the next step and advanced to the state final four for the first time in program history.
Dominion Post
19-06-2025
- Dominion Post
Help on gambling is just a call away
As online sports betting and casino apps surge in West Virginia, mental health advocates see a crisis level in gambling for young adults — specifically in Morgantown. The West Virginia 1-800-GAMBLER helpline, operated by First Choice Services, is seeing its busiest year yet. The number of callers seeking help has increased tremendously since the legalization of mobile sports betting and online casino gaming, helpline officials said. 'Every year I say it's the busiest year, and every year, the real calls keep going up,' helpline representative Sheila Moran said. 'The demographics have shifted. It used to be mostly middle-aged women calling. Now it's overwhelmingly younger men, especially in college towns like Morgantown.' With a university, a strong sports culture and students experiencing independence for the first time, Morgantown has become a hotspot for gambling activity. Many callers began betting casually only to find themselves hooked after a big win, Moran said. 'That early high is dangerous. People do not realize how addicting it can be to feel like a winner,' Moran said. 'It's not about money. It's about chasing that feeling.' The 1-800-GAMBLER line offers free, confidential support 24/7. Unlike some national services that have moved toward automation, this helpline still connects callers to real people. The support is widespread and something for each person's comfort level. There are counselor-led support groups, one-on-one therapy with licensed professionals, peer support with others in long-term recovery, self-help resources like podcasts and books, and a new mobile app called PG Connections to connect users with anonymous peer support across the state. First Choice Services also works with family members who may be affected by a loved one's gambling. Parents concerned about their children — or children concerned about their parents — are welcome to call for guidance. 'Ten years ago, if you asked people if they knew someone with a gambling problem, you'd get a few raised hands,' said Moran. 'Now, every hand in the room goes up and everyone has a story.' The organization has also begun outreach in high schools, where gambling is becoming more common among teens. The helpline can be reached by calling or texting 1-800-GAMBLER or visiting to chat with a real person online. 'We want people to know that recovery is possible,' Moran said. 'You don't have to hit rock bottom before reaching out. We are here to help at any stage.'
New York Post
13-06-2025
- New York Post
Legendary Chaminade lacrosse coach Jack Moran retiring after 45 years
After 45 years, this frequent flyer is finally landing. Chaminade head lacrosse coach Jack Moran announced he's stepping down from his role — 21 championships and 629 wins later. 'I'm just going to miss the banter,' Moran, 73, told The Post. 'Most of the time with the kids, I can just give a look to them … whatever we do, do it at 100 percent effort 100 percent of the time. And I'm going to miss being able to say that to those guys every single day.' After Moran announced the end of his tenure, he received '178 text messages and about 100 emails' from former players wishing their old coach well. 'I know them all,' Moran said of those he instructed since 1979. 'I probably have a story for every one of them.' It's not his final flight, however. Moran will hold an advisory role with the prestigious Catholic program, where students cut from varsity teams are often still recruited for college. His focus will be on player development and team depth with enthusiastic second- and third-stringers as 'sulkers find out by sophomore year they aren't in the right sport.' Chaminade head lacrosse coach Jack Moran announced he's stepping down from his role — 21 championships and 629 wins later. Courtesy of Chaminade High School 'I'm not going to make every road trip. I'm going to spend time watching my grandkids play on the weekends, but I'll probably be at the Delbarton game,' he said of the New York-New Jersey rivalry. Assistant coach Gregory Kay, the school's chief academic officer and 1998 grad, will fill the coach's huge shoes next spring. Moran, whose Flyers last won it all in 2018, ended his career on a championship loss to the school's respected archrival, the St. Anthony's Friars, by a score of 16-12 last month. 'In fact, I was happy it was St. Anthony's,' Moran said. 'Because from going out, that's a team I want to go out with.' Jack Moran poses for a picture with some of his Chaminade players earlier in the season. Heather Khalifa for New YorK Post Semis are Place to be for Carle Place These Frogs don't want to croak in the big game. Carle Place's softball team is heading to the state semifinals and could bring home the Nassau County town's first state title in the sport. The 19-5 LI champions face 20-3 Chatham in the semifinals Friday night. 'We don't know anything about them, we're going in blind,' said sophomore third basemen Alexa Mifsud. Nevertheless, the squad is keeping cool and calm. Junior Isabella DeGroot, a first baseman who also pitches and plays the outfield, recalled pregame jitters of playing Cold Spring Harbor in the first round of the Nassau County games. They conquered CSP 18-0 and then 20-0 in the best-of-three series, and the Frogs used the moment to know the team can hang with the best of any competition thrown their way. 'We're going to have to be ready for all different kinds of pitches now — and we've done a lot of hitting drills for that,' DeGroot added. The USA Patriots amputee softball team, better known as the National Wounded Warrior squad, is traveling to Long Island to take on two local teams, the LI Senior All-Stars and LI All-Stars, at noon and 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Moriches Athletic Complex. Admission is free.
