Problem Gambling Calls Up 200% For Michigan Sports Betting

• Michigan has seen a 200% increase in gambling helpline calls since 2020.
• New York has received over $2.4 billion in sports betting wagers since January 8th, 2022.
• Michigan has seen a 42% increase in gambling helpline referrals.
• People spent over 6 hours a day on gambling websites in 2021.

LANSING, Mich. – Regulated sports betting in Michigan launched on March 11, 2020, and the first bet was placed in Detroit. One short year following that bet, the gambling helpline has almost tripled the amount of phone calls received.

There were a total of 4,400 calls to Michigan’s gambling hotline in 2021, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

Michigan has also seen an increase in the number of referrals that have been made to the Gambling helpline, at 42%.

Gambling Hotline Increase Throughout The US

• 200% increase in Michigan from 2020-2021
• 122% increase (from last year) in Connecticut from October 2021-January 2022
• 46% increase in New York in the month of January in 2021 and 2022
• 45% increase on a nation-wide scale from 2021-2022

All of the sports wagers placed in 2020, consisted of residents placing bets at the physical location of Michigan sportsbooks. but in 2021, 10 mobile sportsbook apps launched in Michigan out of the gate.

Along with mobile sportsbooks, Michigan decided to go all in on gambling, and offer players online poker rooms that feature real money and live dealers. This put Michigan in a category as one of the six states in the US that allow online poker rooms.

States With Regulated iGaming

• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Michigan
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• West Virginia

The COVID-19 pandemic opened up the market for online gambling and statistics to show that online gamblers were spending an average of 6.6 hours every single week on gambling or betting websites.

Gambling Promotions in New York

Promotions are another reason leading to problem gambling across the country. New York introduced online sportsbooks on January 8 and almost hit a wager total of $2.4 billion in the first five weeks.

Various NY online sportsbook apps ran promotions that offered free first-time deposits for bets and other live deals. As many were getting into betting for the first time, the ease of accessibility seems to go hand in hand with marketing schemes.

News tags: Connecticut | Gambling Hotline | Michigan | New York