NJ Cautions NY – Internet Sports Betting Causing Rise In Addicts

• New York may legalize mobile sports betting platforms next year to help with their budget shortage.
• New Jersey has seen a jump in sports betting addiction due to mobile access and is sending a warning to New York about it.
• For the past six months, the Garden State has reigned as the top sports wagering state in the country.

NEW YORK – Experts in New Jersey are warning lawmakers in New York of the hand legal sports betting has played in the rise of gambling addiction in their state.

New York has not yet legalized mobile or internet wagering on sporting events, opting for four upstate land-based facilities instead. However, it is the belief that due to an estimated $6.1 billion deficit next year that a new revenue stream like online sports betting will be approved. Advocates in the state of New York are pushing to legalize sports betting applications.

Now the Council on Compulsive Gambling Of New Jersey has decided to offer their cautionary tale for the Empire State. New Jersey exceeded the state of Nevada’s numbers last June to take the title of the biggest sports betting market in the nation with millions of dollars to show for it.

But 84% of their sports betting is done through the internet or mobile applications. The executive director of the council, Neva Pryor thinks allowing people to wager from their phones is a major contributing factor in gambling addiction as gamblers have access at all times.

“I think it’s better if a person has to physically go somewhere to bet,” said Pryor.

The council is allotted $2 million annually to serve the public with options to treat their addictions. Advertisements spanning different platforms take about $650,000 of that money.

In comparison to what internet sportsbooks pay in advertisements, an estimated $79.4 million, the number of ads for treatment services cannot compete with the number of ads out there for wagering on sports.

The Spike In Addiction

Sports betting became legal in New Jersey in 2018 after the federal ban on sports betting known as PASPA was overturned. Before the ban was lifted, hotlines for addiction would see anywhere from 1-5 percent of their phone calls to be about gambling on sports.

Since legalizing the hobby, that number has jumped to 10.8%. With an average of about 96 calls each month for different addictions, calls being made about sports betting addiction can sometimes be more than ten a month. When the Super Bowl came around, that number went beyond 16 calls to the hotline.

While that number is seen as a huge spike to those in the council, many variables need to be taken into consideration. New Jersey sees mobile sports betting not only from their residents but the residents of New York as well.

They are also the sports wagering capital of the United States. It’s not hard to see a low number of people reaching out to the hotline before PASPA’s repeal as it was an illegal pastime.

Now that it’s become legal, the average maximum of ten calls per month compared to the number of sports bettors placing wagers each month could be seen as a minor blip on the radar.

Gambling addiction is a very real and serious problem and New York should be made aware of their neighboring state’s numbers before making any decisions on legalization next year. But it should be mentioned that while those numbers will be considered, revenue numbers and the number of bettors will most likely also be taken into account.

If you struggle with gambling or substance abuse related to gambling visit the National Helpline online or dial 1-800-662-HELP (4357)!

News tags: Council on Compulsive Gambling Of New Jersey | Neva Pryor | New Jersey | New York | PASPA