Three of four social service agencies in Allegheny County have done nothing to prepare for problems that might arise from future casino gambling, according to a University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work study released yesterday.

The study drew responses from 137 agencies that deal with addiction and other social problems. Few have yet trained any staff on gambling addiction or begun discussing it as a possible problem with clients they see for alcohol or drug addiction or other difficulties, the survey found.

"The majority of agencies are either not interested in sending staff to training, feel that problem gambling does not match their client needs, lack the financial resources for training, or don't know where to find training programs," says the report, titled "Raising the Stakes," coordinated by social work professors Rafael Engel, Daniel Rosen and Tracy Soska.

The report, funded by the Staunton Farm Foundation, was done in anticipation of the May 2009 opening of the Majestic Star casino on the North Side.

The professors said in a briefing that they see little evidence that either the service providers or the governments that fund much of the agencies' work are preparing for increased compulsive gambling.

Most researchers have estimated that at least 1 percent of the U.S. adult population are pathological gamblers, who would thus number 10,000 or more in Allegheny County. Many of those may already have gambling problems, but the number will increase once legal slot machines are closer, the professors said.

"We have time, but the time to start is now ... before the casino shows up," Dr. Engel said.

Patricia Valentine, the county's deputy director for behavioral health, said the report raises valid points, but too early to suggest that governments or agencies aren't doing what they need to. County efforts to raise awareness in the local human services field about gambling issues are under way and will continue, she said.

"What the results indicate is the current capacity of the system is likely to be insufficient to meet future needs," Ms. Valentine said. "We do expect it to be very different in the future."

Pennsylvania is allocating at least $1.5 million annually from slots revenue for the state Department of Health to undertake education, training and treatment programs related to problem gambling. Most of that money has been held back to help pay for outpatient treatment by therapists certified in gambling addiction, which will start later this year, state officials say.

The School of Social Work has filled all 20 slots in a course to be held in February and March for professionals around the region intending to be certified in gambling treatment, and another course for that purpose in the spring is nearly full.

The study notes that currently, only 14 percent of agencies do any screening of clients for gambling problems, and many would not know where to refer people for help if they identified it as an issue.

Sixty agencies said they do not view gambling as an issue for them, and the professors acknowledged such issues as helping with health care, hunger and mortgage foreclosures may be higher immediate concerns.

Dr. Engel said the service providers, as standard procedure, should add one or two gambling-related questions to client interviews. Many problem gamblers have been proven to have other addictions or personality disorders at the same time.

"If you don't ask, you don't know," Dr. Engel said of the gambling problem, which is generally easier to conceal than other addictions.

Among the report's other recommendations, based on responses received from 137 of the 248 agencies that were sent questionnaires:

• A comprehensive effort should be launched to educate service providers about gambling, with a data bank set up to list the certified gambling counselors available in the county.

• The state should expand its public awareness and prevention programs concerning gambling, and consider increasing minimum funding above $1.5 million annually for such efforts and for treatment.

• A benchmark study should be done in Allegheny County of the level of gambling disorders prior to the Majestic Star's opening, so any change in problems can be tracked after it begins operating.

Pennsylvania Department of Health officials declined comment on the study, saying they had not yet reviewed it.