Legalized sports betting exposes Kentucky's disordered gambling issues, more are seeking help
Kentucky, and the entire United States, is in the midst of the second largest gambling event of the year. The professional football Super Bowl is first. The NCAA basketball tournament—March Madness—is second. In some respects March Madness is more pervasive as seemingly every business, office, organization, social group or family fills out brackets or participates in some form of gambling to guess the championship team.
Gambling in Kentucky may be at an all-time high. The advent of legal sports betting—combined with the Kentucky Lottery and Keno, pari-mutuel horse racing and historical horse racing machines, and charitable gaming—gives individuals opportunity to gamble legally. Last year, more than $2 billion was spent on legal gambling in Kentucky. Kentucky is a gambling state.
Here's what you should know: Legal gambling raised more than $530M in 2022
Legalization of sports betting last year allows anyone with a cell phone to have a betting window in his or her pocket. Access and availability are two risk factors in a person developing a gambling problem. Mobile betting apps and the growing locations of historical horse racing provide easy access and nearby availability. Advertising, online wagering and social media messaging has increased awareness of problem and disordered gambling as evidenced by the calls and texts to the 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) problem gambling helpline. The calls and texts have increased significantly since sports betting became legal in September 2023.
Interestingly, while awareness seemingly increased, the number of problem and disordered (or addicted) gamblers likely has remained constant for at least the last 30 years. The problem and addicted gamblers have been there all the time. The stigma and shame of uncontrolled gambling behavior kept the problems hidden. The advertising and messaging are raising awareness that for some people uncontrolled gambling is a circumstance that can be classified as a behavioral health issue and can be treated. With counseling and self-help, disordered gamblers can recover and return to productive behaviors. We are seeing more individuals surfacing and seeking help.
More Kentuckians are seeking help for problem gambling
As explained by Dr. Jon E. Grant, University of Chicago, who delivered the keynote address at the 27th Annual Educational and Awareness Conference presented by the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling, disordered gambling is a mental disorder resulting from the gambler’s biologic chemicals or learned behaviors. It is defined by the American Psychiatric Association. Problem gamblers exhibit traits that could escalate to disordered or addicted gambling.
By far, most people gamble for the entertainment and do not suffer undue consequences. Since the mid-1990s, research and surveys indicate 95% of the population gambles for the entertainment value with no long-term or undue consequences. One percent of the population is the consistent estimate of disordered gamblers, and 3% is the consistent citation of problem gamblers. The actual number does increase with population growth.
An analysis by Dr. Scott Hunt, Associate Dean, School of Justice Studies, Eastern Kentucky University, and a member of the KYCPG Board, reported about 50,000 disordered gamblers now in Kentucky. Problem gamblers could amount to 165,000 individuals. Other research indicates each disordered gambler could cost society $9,000 annually in social services, unemployment insurance, criminal justice, bankruptcy, lost productivity, lost wages and suicide. The suicide rate among disordered gamblers is the highest of all the addictive disorders. Research shows each disordered gambler affects 8-10 other people.
Since sports betting started in Kentucky, more people are recognizing their gambling may be a problem. They are calling or texting 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) to ask questions and get help. In August 2023, callers seeking help averaged one per day. In October 2023, the first full month of sports gambling, callers averaged two per day, and the number has remained higher than before sports betting started.
As noted, this does not mean there are more problem and addicted gamblers in Kentucky. It does mean more are recognizing a potential problem and seeking help. And more help is on the way. The legislation that legalized sports betting in the state included language to establish the state’s first publicly funded problem gambling assistance account. Funded by a portion of the taxes on sports betting, the account will be managed by the state Division of Behavioral Health to provide behavioral health counseling services, prevention outreach, and awareness messaging on problem and disordered gambling. It will not be a bailout program nor a source to pay gambler’s debts.
KYCPG is not anti-gambling, nor does it encourage people to gamble. Man has gambled since prehistoric times and will continue to gamble into the future. KYCPG’s purpose is to raise awareness that gambling can be addictive and to increase the availability of help for problem and addicted gamblers and their families. KYCPG urges individuals to gamble responsibly. Before gambling, individuals can ask themselves whether their financial and personal circumstances allow for gambling as entertainment? Gambling should be avoided when individuals feel stress or are dealing with emotions; it is not a suitable escape activity. Finally, individuals should set limits on how much money and time they will spend gambling. And when gambling, do not try to win back money lost and avoid ATMs and secondary sources of money.
If gambling no longer is fun or you think it may be a problem, please call or text 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537).
Michael R. Stone is executive director of the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling (KYCPG).
The Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to increase awareness of problem gambling, promote prevention and research, and advocate for the availability of treatment. KYCPG is supported by memberships and donations. Corporate members include Churchill Downs, Inc (Churchill Downs, Ellis Park, Turfway Park, Newport Racing and Gaming, Oak Grove Racing Gaming and Hotel, Derby City Gaming, and TwinSpires); Keeneland Race Course; The Mint (formerly Kentucky Downs); The Red Mile; The Kentucky Lottery Corporation; KRM Wagering; Bally’s Evansville, Belterra Casino Resort, Caesars Southern Indiana, and Caesars Sportsbook.
Members of the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling Board of Directors are President, Director of Education and NCPG Representative RonSonLyn Clark, Psy.D., Owensboro; Treasurer Michael Townsend, Crestwood; Secretary Sara Westerman, Crestwood; Professional Adviser Curtis L. Barrett, Ph.D., Prospect; John Arnett, Florence; Jim Blackerby, Lexington; Dennis Boyd, Louisville; Scott Hunt, Ph.D., Richmond; Gerrimy Keiffer, Owensboro; Patrick Malarkey, Louisville, and Chip Polston, Louisville.
When It’s No Longer Fun – There Is Help.
If you or someone you know thinks there is a gambling problem, please call or text 1-800-GAMBLER
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky sports betting is legal now, more are seeking gambling help.
