The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has introduced Evive, a mobile app intended to give people who struggle with gambling an initial point of contact for support.
State officials said they hope the app will reach bettors at a time when gambling activity continues to move from casino floors to personal cellphones.
The DPH’s Office of Problem Gambling Services announced the app last week. According to the department, Evive is “designed for people who may not yet feel ready for clinical services but are seeking a safe, supportive way to start making changes.”
The app offers daily check-ins, progress tracking, evidence-based lessons and peer support features. DPH said the tool is meant to provide “another pathway into recovery — one that meets people where they are and helps them move forward at their own pace.”
Ten years of input behind the launch
“Recovery is not one decision. It is a series of moments when someone needs a door and finds one open,” said Victor Ortiz, director of the Office of Problem Gambling Services. “For 10 years, we’ve listened closely to people living this experience. They’ve told us, time and again, that support needs to be there around the clock.”
“What we’re offering now is a direct response to what they’ve asked for. It doesn’t replace the helpline — it extends it, so people feel supported whenever they need us,” he added.
Wagering moves into the pocket
Massachusetts launched legal casino gambling in 2015, and the industry has trended toward online gambling since then.
Fantasy sports, sports betting, prediction markets and online Lottery sales have largely moved problem gambling behavior away from casinos, racetracks and simulcast centers. That activity now takes place on personal devices, which give bettors access to wagering 24/7 across the state.
Some members of the gambling industry have pushed for Massachusetts to legalize online casino gambling. However, lawmakers showed little interest in that expansion during the current session.
Why late September
DPH said it chose to launch Evive at the end of September because the month was National Recovery Month. The timing also coincides with the start of the football season, which the department described as “a stretch of months that represents a significant increase in gambling engagement. It is the season when a quiet strain becomes harder to carry, and when the people around a person experiencing gambling harm begin looking for somewhere to turn.”
The Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline continues to serve callers in English, Spanish, and additional languages at 800-327-5050. DPH said Evive is currently available in English only.