Online Sports Betting Expansion Linked to More Gambling Hotline Calls

Researchers found that calls to the National Problem Gambling Hotline were nearly 23% higher after online sports betting became legal. The finding comes as betting through websites and apps becomes more common and easier to access.

People ages 18 to 34 made up nearly half of those contacting the National Council on Problem Gambling, the organization said. Men accounted for 70% of people seeking help.

The way people gamble has also shifted. Traditional forms, such as slot machines, have become less common, whereas online and app-based gambling has grown to account for 31% of cases. The figures have raised concerns about the risks of having a sportsbook accessible on a phone.

The study identifies an association between legalizing online sports betting and higher hotline call volume; its findings do not prove legalization alone caused the increase. The data adds to concerns about gambling-related harm, which officials say can be overlooked or misunderstood.

The National Problem Gambling Helpline offers free, confidential support around the clock. People can call or text 1-800-MY-RESET or visit 1800myreset.org.

Mobile Betting’s Convenience Comes With a Growing Public Health Toll

The rapid spread of legal online sports betting is bringing a serious health concern into everyday life: a University of New Hampshire study found a nearly 23% rise in calls to the National Problem Gambling Hotline following legalization.

The people reaching out are often young. Nearly half of those contacting the National Council on Problem Gambling were people ages 18 to 34, while men made up 70% of those seeking help. Online and app-based gambling now accounts for 31% of cases, as traditional gambling, such as slot machines, has become less common.

A sportsbook on a phone makes betting readily accessible, and the figures underscore the risks that accompany that shift. Treating expanded access as merely a consumer convenience overlooks the financial and health consequences raised by the hotline data.

The study found an association, not proof that legalization by itself caused every additional call. The National Problem Gambling Helpline provides free, confidential help 24 hours a day: call or text 1-800-MY-RESET, or visit 1800myreset.org.

Hotline Calls Rise as Legal Mobile Sports Betting Expands

A rise in gambling hotline calls is a reason to take problem gambling seriously, but it is not proof that legal online betting alone caused the increase. A University of New Hampshire study linked legalization of online sports wagers with nearly 23% more calls to the National Problem Gambling Hotline.

The data also show who is reaching out: nearly half of those contacting the National Council on Problem Gambling were people ages 18 to 34, and men accounted for 70% of those seeking help. Online and app-based gambling represents 31% of cases, while traditional forms such as slot machines have become less common.

Those figures raise legitimate questions about phone-based access and gambling-related harm. But a careful response should distinguish an observed association from a claim that legalization itself explains the change. The findings establish a concern to weigh, not a definitive account of what caused each call.

The National Problem Gambling Helpline offers free, confidential support at any time. Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET, or visit 1800myreset.org.