All the media attention surrounding the billion-dollar Powerball Drawing can make this a difficult time for people with gambling issues.
Jennifer Faringer is Director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency-Rochester Area.
She says the attraction of the Powerball drawing is no big deal for the social gambler, or those who can maintain control over the gambling.
But this can be an issue for the problem gambler.
"The issue becomes the person who hasn't the means. For example, maybe they're doing social services, to get their basic needs met, then use the funds that they really don't have, for the gambling issue. I think that's that's when it becomes a problem, when you go beyond your means."
And all the hype surrounding the drawing doesn't help.
"They hear it wherever they go, they see it, it's in the paper, on the TV. I think that's the issue, they feel besieged and they don't have the equal amount of time spent toward helping people who have problem gambling issues."
Faringer says the odds of winning the jackpot are astronomical.
She points out in the state of New York there are no funded prevention and treatment services for problem gambling.
She says at the Council they offer educational services around problem gambling, and host Gamblers Anonymous meetings weekly.