© 2024 WYSO
Our Community. Our Nation. Our World.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Legalization of sports betting raises concerns about gambling addiction

Gaming machines in a racino/casino.
Ed Gregory
/
Wikimedia Commons

With sports betting becoming legal in Ohio, many grow concerned about problem gambling.

On January 1st, Sports Betting was made legal in Ohio. That’s created a lot of excitement among many sports fans and casinos and businesses offering the betting. But it also has some concerned about the risks of problem gambling and addiction.

William Roberts is the Senior manager of Addiction Services for Public Health - Dayton and Montgomery County. He says they often see issues arise with compulsive gambling and sports betting.

“As you know, sports is one of the biggest industries and pastimes of people in this country. Couple that with the celebration around sports and the competitive nature of human beings and you have an atmosphere that would be a great incubation for compulsive gambling,” Roberts said.

Roberts says knowing the warning signs of compulsive gambling can help prevent an addiction.

Free gambling addiction services are available through Public Health’s Recovery Services Gambling Hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), as well as through the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio.

Shay Frank was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. Before working at WYSO, Shay worked as the Arts Writer for the Blade Newspaper in Toledo, Ohio. In addition to working at the paper, she worked as a freelancer for WYSO for three years and served as the vice president of the Toledo News Guild. Now located back in the Dayton area, Shay is thrilled to be working with the team at WYSO and reporting for her hometown community.