On January 1st, 2023, new legislation went into effect at the stroke of midnight that has stirred up quite a bit of controversy. In the state of Ohio, sports betting has now been legalized and anybody of legal age can download sports betting apps on their phones such as Fanduel or Draft Kings. With very few restrictions on how much one person can bet, it has opened up a Pandora’s Box for people attempting to recover from gambling addiction.
In the time since sports betting has been legalized on New Year’s Day, the number of people seeking help for their gambling addiction has spiked. The state of Ohio’s gambling addiction hotline has reported that calls from people seeking help have tripled in the last month.
The sports betting industry in Ohio is projected to generate $8 billion USD in 2023, and without more oversight from the state of Ohio’s government many more people will continue to lose their ability to make ends meet.
While gambling has its core audience, there are many people who are reluctant to partake as they are aware of the risks involved. I had a chance to speak with Jordan Boxer, a Physical Therapist Assistant major in Building 14 right before his classes began.
“It’s Just not for me personally, but for other people it can be kind of exciting.” Jordan explained. “It’s a pitfall you can fall into pretty easily. I’ve made a few, with friends, but other than that I’m not really into it.”.
While a gambling addiction is a beast that can creep up on unsuspecting betters, there are approaches to gambling people can take to avoid getting sucked in.
Keeping a limit on how much one can bring to table in one night is an easy first step. Gamblers can also chronicle their thoughts and feelings in a gambling journal to re-examine a night’s events to help pinpoint triggers for betting too much, as well as finding a support group to speak with when the urge to gamble is particularly strong.
The National Council on Problem Gambling is responsible for the Gambling Helpline Network. If you or a loved one is struggling with a gambling problem, call 1-800-522-4700 to receive immediate support.
Chris Scharf
Reporter