COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP): After overseeing the opening of four casinos and seven racinos in Ohio, the state is planning to spend nearly $5.8 million on gambling addiction and treatment this year.

Tracy Plouck, director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, says the state currently has a shortage of trained, certified counselors to deal with problem gambling, but officials are pushing for more education programs to get up to speed.

Plouck said the nearly $5.8 million that will be directed to gambling programs in the current fiscal year compares to $4.5 million in the year that ended June 30.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the money comes from a 2-percent share of taxes paid to the state by the four casinos.