The State of Sports Gambling in Ohio
Published: July 16, 2018
Over the past few years, in addition to cable TV, streaming services, social networks, mobile devices, and video games have made sports media widely available to virtually anyone who is interested. Increased availability of sports programming can lead to an increase in gambling activity, which most Americans do not mind—a 2018 Gallup poll shows that 69 percent of Americans view gambling as morally acceptable, which is an all-time high.
According to a 2017 American Gaming Association report, legalized casinos were a $38.96 billion industry in 2016, with Cincinnati ranking as one of the top 20 casino markets in the U.S. Now that the Supreme Court has overturned a 26-year-old federal law that once banned sports gambling, individual states will decide whether or not they will allow sports betting in a variety of formats.
Although Ohio does not currently allow sports betting, it is still a possibility in the future. This, of course, raises concern about a possible spike in gambling addiction in the state.
Currently:
- Problem gambling rates among teens and young adults have been shown to be 2-3 times that of adults.
- Children of problem gamblers may be at higher risk for a broad range of physical and mental health and school-related problems.
- Problem gamblers are at higher risk to attempt suicide and to face bankruptcy.
- 25% of compulsive gamblers are women.
- 73% of problem gamblers have an alcohol disorder.
*Statistics courtesy of Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County
If you or someone you know has a gambling addiction, call the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 to search for FREE counseling in your area.