Ohio legalized sports gambling in 2023 for a statewide market where few things are more popular than sports.
Gamblers embraced the opportunity to bet online and in person at sportsbooks and lottery-style kiosks to wager more than $7.6 billion on sports statewide in 2023, according to Crain’s Cleveland Business. That helped fuel the $119.8 billion Americans legally wagered on sports last year, an increase of 27.8 percent from 2022, according to The Associated Press.
While many people can bet responsibly, the increased accessibility to gambling sites – 97 percent of sports bets in Ohio were placed online or on mobile devices – has brought with it an increase in the risk for gambling addiction.
Michelle Snowden, Associate Director of 211 Navigation Services, was featured on an ESPN Outside the Lines special program focusing on sports gambling. Michelle discussed some of the trends that 211 Navigators have seen since Ohio legalized sports gambling in January 2023, and the help available through 1-800-GAMBLER, which United Way 211 manages on behalf of the state.
Men ages 18 to 24 are most at risk
The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates that risk has grown by more than 30 percent since 2016, the year that the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for legalized sports betting. And the demographic that is most likely to struggle is men aged 18 to 24, according to Sports Business Journal.
Ohio For Responsible Gambling estimates that about 255,000 of the state’s adult population has a gambling disorder, and almost 20 percent are in the category of low-risk, moderate-risk, or problem gamblers, according to Crain’s.
That aligns with call data from United Way 211, which manages the state’s gambling helpline. Since the launch of legalized sports gambling on January 1, 2023, United Way 211 has seen:
- An increase of 277% in calls related to sports gambling in January 2023 compared to January 2022.
- An increase of 136% in calls related to sports gambling in February 2023 compared to February 2022.
- An almost 30 percent increase in calls each month in 2023 compared to the same month in 2022.
- The top two gambling-related reasons from callers shift to daily fantasy sports and sports betting, replacing casino slots and lottery scratch-off tickets.
- Almost two-thirds of the calls related to sports betting come from males.
- An increase of 56% in call volume in 2023 compared to 2022.
The increase in calls may have more to do with the public being aware of the helpline than a rise in problem gamblers, Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling, told Sports Business Journal.
“We think one of the biggest drivers of helpline calls is not the underlying rate of problem gambling, but the promotion of the helpline,” Whyte said. “I think a lot of people with gambling problems have suffered in silence and never known where to turn. But when online sports betting was legalized, and all of a sudden the airwaves were blanketed with ads that include 1-800-GAMBLER, there’s a lot more people that are saying ‘Oh, maybe there is hope and help available.’”
Ohio For Responsible Gambling has additional resources on its website, including Change the Game Ohio, which focuses on the risks of youth gambling; and Timeout Ohio, a voluntary exclusion program.
What is Problem Gambling?
March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, a nationwide effort dedicated to increasing public awareness of problem gambling and the availability of prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
Problem gambling is defined as all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt, or damage personal, family, or vocational pursuits. The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates that 2.5 million adults nationally meet the criteria for severe problem gambling, while another 5-8 million meet the criteria for mild or moderate problem gambling.
Anyone who gambles can be at risk for developing a gambling problem, and warning signs include:
- Thinking about gambling all the time.
- Feeling the need to bet more money and more often.
- Going back to try to win your money back, aka “chasing losses.”
- Feeling restless or irritable when trying to stop or cut down on gambling.
- Gambling despite negative consequences.
- In extreme cases, problem gambling can cause bankruptcy, legal problems, job loss, family issues, and thinking about suicide.
If you or someone you know is concerned about gambling, call Ohio’s Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER or dial 2-1-1. The service is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
