Ohio sports betting launch accompanied by spike in gambling helpline calls
First month of legalized sports betting results in triple the number of calls to Problem Gambling Hotline
The launch of legalized sports betting in Ohio on January 1 brought with it a marked spike in calls to the state’s gambling helpline, according to the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC).
Recently released data from the OCCC reveals the Ohio Problem Gambling Hotline received 1,492 calls in January, or an average of just over 48 per day.
That represented more than a threefold increase from the 456 calls it received in January 2022.
The Problem Gambling Network of Ohio had been tracking a steady rise in calls to the hotline over the final few months of 2022 and was anticipating an additional spike once sports betting officially rolled out, according to executive director Derek Longmeier.
“It’s something that we knew was increasing and something we had been monitoring, and we also know from other states that as legal forms of gambling expand, there’s going to be increased demand on services,” said Longmeier.
While operator data has yet to be made available, there’s no doubt the universal launch of retail, online, and kiosk betting to begin the year has led to a surge of wagering activity throughout the Buckeye State, evidenced by data from geolocation firm GeoComply, which registered at least 2.25 million unique accounts using online sportsbook apps in January.
In addition, the Ohio Lottery Commission (OLC) reported a total of $850,000 in combined bets placed across 772 kiosks in the first month of operation.
The sudden ubiquitous availability of betting outlets has predictably been accompanied by the increase in helpline calls – particularly among 18-34-year-olds – underscoring the role of the Problem Gambling Network.
“People are calling for help with gambling,” Longmeier said. “That’s our responsibility – to make sure help is available by working with prevention practitioners and clinicians and engaging with the self-help community, like Gamblers Anonymous or other groups, to make sure support is available for any needs that might arise.”
Some of the resources available to Ohioans include calling the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline or placing themselves on a voluntary self-exclusion list as part of the Time Out Ohio program.