Arizona sees increase in calls for help since sports betting legalized
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Gambling addiction has been increasingly problematic across the country since sports betting became more prevalent, and Arizona has seen an increase in people seeking help since event wagering became legal here.
The big picture: About 2.5 million adults nationwide meet the criteria for severe problem gambling, with another 5 million to 8 million who have mild to moderate gambling problems, according to the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG).
- ADG's Division of Problem Gambling (DPG) funded gambling addiction treatment for 992 people in fiscal year 2024, compared with 948 people in 2023 and 816 people in 2022.
- The division spent nearly $1.4 million on treatment last fiscal year.
- The gaming department has received an increase in total calls to its problem gambling helpline since sports wagering was legalized here in 2021, DPG director Elise Mikkelson told Axios.
Yes, but: Mikkelson said the uptick is likely the result of increased awareness of available resources, noting that sports betting licensees must list the department's helpline number on its signage and advertising.
- "The way addiction works, there's going to be lag time before we see fallout from an increase in gaming and gambling activities. So I would say right now it's more of an awareness issue," she said.
Why it matters: Gambling addiction can result in financial problems and damage personal, family and professional relationships.
Catch up quick: In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a 1992 law prohibiting sports wagering in all but four states.
- Then-Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation in 2021 that legalized in-person and online sports betting in Arizona.
- 38 states and the District of Columbia permit sports betting, and Missouri voters approved wagering in November, though implementation is delayed until this fall.
Zoom in: ADG's most recent report, for November 2024, showed that Arizonans made $898 million in sports bets that month, a new monthly record by more than $100 million and a 26% increase from November 2023.
- The overwhelming majority of sports betting in Arizona occurs via wagering apps — only $7.6 million of the $898 million was gambled at retail locations.
Threat level: The rise of legalized sports betting has brought a corresponding increase in gambling addiction.
- A study published last month in the American Medical Association's peer-reviewed journal found a 23% nationwide increase in online searches for gambling addiction help.
- NBC News reported last year that gambling addiction helplines were seeing an increase in calls and more outreach from younger people, often men in their 20s and 30s.
- The ease with which people can bet from apps on their phones and the vast array of available bets make online sports wagering particularly troublesome, experts told NBC News.
What to do: If you or someone you know needs help with gambling problems:
- Call ADG's hotline, 1-800-NEXT-STEP, text "NEXTSTEP" to 53342, or use the chat feature on the department's problem gambling web page.
- ADG maintains a list of counseling providers available through the state-funded Treatment Assistance Program.
- People can also enroll in the self-exclusion program, which voluntarily bans them from tribal casinos in the state, as well as from mobile betting apps, for a specified and legally binding period of time. More than 2,200 people are enrolled, mostly for casino exclusion, per ADG.
The bottom line: March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, so now is as good a time as any to seek help if you need it.