The surge in online gambling has triggered growing concerns about its public health consequences. In mid-November, a report from the Lancet Public Health Commission warned of significant risks stemming from the online gambling boom. Nearly three years after the launch of mobile sports betting in New York, similar alarms are being raised by clinicians and counselors at gambling treatment centers, including Helio Health in Syracuse.
Fewer Calls Despite More Gambling Opportunities
Susan Browne, a gambling treatment counselor at Helio Health, has noticed a troubling trend: a decline in the number of problem gamblers seeking help. The center provides individual and group counseling sessions designed to teach problem-solving skills and encourage long-term abstinence from gambling. Despite the increasing availability of gambling methods, Browne reports receiving fewer calls from individuals seeking assistance.
“There’s more methods of gambling, yet I’m getting less and less phone calls,” she shared. Browne speculates that this decrease in outreach may change eventually, but for now, many people seem hesitant to access available support services.
Browne believes the perception of mobile sports betting contributes to this issue. Since the legalization of online wagering in New York, younger clients often claim they aren’t gambling—they’re merely “betting on sports.” This belief, coupled with the popularity of apps like DraftKings and FanDuel, creates a false sense of security around sports betting.
Helio Health currently offers professional assessments, individual and group counseling, family support, financial management coaching, and gambling in-service training upon request.
Gambling Apps Are Just Another Online Activity
Jim Maney, executive director of the New York Council on Problem Gambling, emphasizes how normalized mobile gambling has become, particularly among younger individuals. “Being on a phone app is no different from being on Instagram or Snapchat or TikTok. Now you’re on a gambling app. It’s all the same thing,” he explained.
Problem gamblers might borrow from friends, max out credit cards, or even mortgage their homes before seeking help
The seamless integration of gambling into everyday online life has blurred the lines between entertainment and addiction. Despite the rise in gambling activity, treatment-seeking rates remain low, partly due to the lack of visible symptoms. Gamblers often conceal their struggles until they are in deep financial trouble.
Maney noted that problem gamblers might max out their credit cards, borrow from friends and even mortgage their homes before seeking help, and added that the stigma and shame associated with gambling addiction can make it hard for individuals to come forward.
Raising Awareness Through Public Education
Public education is a critical part of tackling gambling addiction, according to Laura Combs, executive director of New Choices Recovery Center in Schenectady. She argues that prevention efforts should start early, as even seemingly harmless activities like parents giving scratch-off tickets to children can promote “magical thinking”—the belief that luck can defy the odds.
Combs compared the slow recognition of gambling addiction to society’s gradual understanding of alcohol dependency. She explained:
They would feel that there was something unique or wrong or bad about them versus recognizing that anybody who drinks enough or uses enough of a substance over time is going to develop a problem.
Government Action and Policy Changes
New York has invested in various treatment programs, but Combs insists that more needs to be done, particularly when it comes to regulating gambling advertisements and enhancing public awareness campaigns. In a recent move, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation requiring all gambling ads, including those for mobile sports betting, to display addiction warnings and hotline numbers prominently.
Nationally, U.S. Representative Paul Tonko is advocating for more comprehensive reforms through his SAFE Bet Act. This proposed legislation aims to limit sportsbook advertising during live events, cap daily deposits, and introduce affordability checks before large wagers can be placed.
Former New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang has also expressed concerns about the unchecked growth of sports gambling in the United States, highlighting the urgent need for more protective measures to safeguard the public.
History of Sports Betting in New York
Since the legalization of mobile sports betting in New York in January 2022, the state has experienced a significant surge in wagering activity. In November 2024, the total handle reached $2.27 billion, marking a 7% increase from the previous month. This growth contributed to a record-breaking gross revenue of $231.6 million for that month. The state’s 51% tax rate on sports betting operators resulted in $118.1 million in tax revenue for November alone, bringing the year-to-date total to over $965 million. Projections indicate that New York is on track to surpass $1 billion in annual tax revenue by the end of December 2024.
The popularity of mobile sports betting has led to record-breaking weeks, particularly during major sporting events. For instance, during the week ending December 1, 2024, which included Thanksgiving, the state reported a handle of $592.9 million, the highest weekly total to date.
This trend underscores the growing acceptance and participation in mobile sports wagering among New Yorkers. Leading operators like FanDuel and DraftKings have capitalized on this interest, consistently handling substantial portions of the state’s betting volume.
Despite the financial benefits, there are concerns regarding the potential rise in gambling addiction associated with increased accessibility to mobile betting platforms. The New York State Gaming Commission reported a 26% increase in problem gambling-related calls to the Office of Addiction Services and Supports from 2021 to 2022, coinciding with the introduction of mobile sports betting.
This suggests that the convenience of mobile betting may contribute to higher rates of gambling-related issues. However, it’s important to note that the overall percentage of bettors at risk for addiction remains relatively small, estimated at about 4% of New York’s betting population.
This indicates that while there is an uptick in individuals seeking help, the majority of bettors are not exhibiting problematic behaviors.
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