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Connecticut Report on Gambling Impact Shows Overreliance on Problem Gambling Spend
Those at risk of or suffering from gambling addiction account for the lion’s share of gambling revenue, according to worrisome findings by Connecticut’s Department of Mental Health and Addictions Services (DMHAS). The researchers found that the highest-risk segments of gamblers make up less than 7% of the state population yet account for over 70% of Connecticut […]
New Jersey Gambler Sam Antar Appeals to Third Circuit to Consider His Case Against BetMGM
Self-described gambling addiction sufferer Sam Antar will appeal the Jan. 31 dismissal of his lawsuit accusing BetMGM and Borgata Online of predatory practices leading him to lose millions of dollars. On Feb. 26, his lawyer, Matthew Pitt, filed a notice to appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, asking the case to be […]
West Virginia’s Mandatory Data Sharing Bill Reaches Second Reading
A West Virginia bill that would compel gambling operators to share data with West Virginia University (WVU) researchers passed its first reading in the house on Monday after advancing from the Judiciary Committee last week. The legislation’s second reading will happen on Tuesday, with the third following Wednesday. Rep. Shawn Fluharty, the bill’s co-sponsor (alongside […]
Researchers Argue Integrated Player-Tracking Best Approach to Challenge Problem Gambling Harms
Gambling operators track players’ activity in detail for marketing purposes, so why shouldn’t regulators do the same to mitigate the industry’s harmful impacts? A recent opinion piece in the peer-reviewed journal Addiction argues that universal player-tracking systems could help regulators or other organizations tasked with harm reduction. The authors—Dr. Philip Newall of the University of […]
Latest Student Loan Forgiveness May Not Free Up Discretionary Spending for Online Gambling
Many gamblers are saddled with student loan debt, but the $1.2 billion student loan forgiveness plan that came into effect on Feb. 21 may not have much impact on discretionary spending at online casinos. That’s because many of the 153,000 borrowers benefitting from the forgiveness are in income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. The connection between gambling activity […]
West Virginia Responsible Gaming and Research Act Would Require Gambling Operators to Share Data With Researchers
West Virginia is considering legislation that would compel gambling operators to share data with academics for responsible gaming research purposes. It’s a move that harm reduction advocates have been calling for, and the Mountain State now has a chance to lead the way. HB5668 appeared in the House on Feb. 13, aiming to create the West Virginia Responsible […]
Michigan Gaming Control Board Replaces State Helpline With National Standard 1-800-GAMBLER
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has announced that it is replacing its in-state Problem Gambling Hotline with the National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER. Operated by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), 1-800-GAMBLER is the world’s largest problem gambling helpline, as measured by call volume and coverage area. In just over a year of […]
Opinion: How We Write About Problem Gambling Matters
As journalists and editors, the language we use to tell the stories we share matters. For those who write about the gambling industry, it’s time we interrogate how our words may impart more meaning and harm than intended. At least, that was my takeaway after attending How We Speak Matters: Undoing Stigmatizing Language, the 2024 […]
Gambling Could Pose Additional Risks For People Suffering From Long COVID
New research into long COVID suggests impacts on brain chemistry that could put gamblers at increased risk of problematic behavior patterns. The science of COVID-19 is still in its infancy, and the medical community is still uncertain about many things. These include why some people continue to suffer the effects of a COVID-19 infection for […]
Who Spends the Most on Gambling? — High-Income Millennials Dominate US Market, Says TransUnion Study
Despite a dip in overall betting activity, high-income millennials dominated US gambling spend as 2023 came to an end. However, according to TransUnion’s (TU) latest US Gaming Report, rising debt and the return of student loan payments could indicate coming headwinds. “We continue to see the relationship between consumer liquidity and the industry,” Declan Raines, […]
