CBS News Highlights Problem Gambling Tied to Sports Betting

Gambling,

Last week the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council announced it has seen a 22% increase in calls for help with problem gambling — a spike largely driven by sports betting.

Recently CBS News reported how gambling addiction has become a serious problem as sports betting has grown nationwide.

As we have noted before, people who gamble online face a serious risk of developing a gambling addiction, and some research indicates that people who engage in sports betting are twice as likely to suffer from gambling problems.

You can watch the CBS News segment below.

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Driven by Sports Betting, Arkansas Problem Gambling Council Reports Spike in Calls for Help

Gambling,

KATV reports the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council has seen a 22% increase in calls for help in 2024:

Between sports, horse racing, and casinos, the thrill of a possible big-money win keeps Arkansans coming back for more.

“The love of the game, the love of sports, but it’s also with the advancement of technology,” said Vena Schexnayder of the APGC. “Right now, we carry little casinos in our pocket and that’s our phones.”

Schexnayder said this silent addiction can get out of hand.

Gambling via smart phone is relatively new in Arkansas. In 2022 lawmakers approved a state rule change to permit sports betting online via smart phones and other mobile devices from anywhere in Arkansas. Family Council strongly opposed that rule change.

Sports betting is particularly out of hand nationwide, and some sports betting companies have actually produced ads that seem to promote problem-gambling behavior — like commercials that show people so fixated on sports betting that they ignore everyone else around them or encouraging people to take advantage of every opportunity to gamble.

People who gamble online face a serious risk of developing a gambling addiction, and some research indicates that people who engage in sports betting are twice as likely to suffer from gambling problems.

You can watch KATV’s news segment below.

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Arkansas Racing Commission To Consider Rule Change That Would Permit Sports Betting Via Mobile App

Casinos, Gambling,

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported last week that the state’s Racing Commission intends to consider a rule change that would legalize sports betting via mobile app.

Under Amendment 100 to the Arkansas Constitution casino gambling — including sports betting — currently is offered at Oaklawn, Southland, and Saracen casinos.

The rule change effectively would let Arkansans who are 21 and older place bets of sporting events from anywhere in the state via a mobile app.

Here are a few key points to remember about sports betting and mobile gambling:

First, it’s impossible to monitor online gambling to be sure all state and federal laws are being followed. No matter how many safeguards and security features are in place, it’s impossible to guarantee that children won’t gamble via these smart phone apps.

Second, when voters passed Amendment 100 in 2018, they were authorizing casino gambling at certain locations in certain counties. This rule change would permit mobile sports betting from any location in Arkansas. That probably isn’t what voters who supported the casino amendment back in 2018 had in mind.

And third, people who gamble online face a serious risk of developing a gambling addiction. Some research indicates that people who engage in sports betting are twice as likely to suffer from gambling problems.

Bottom line: Mobile sports gambling is a bad bet for Arkansas.

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