Recovery Means More: How Sports Betting Fits Into Recovery
Published: September 1, 2025
Whether you are going on the recovery journey yourself or supporting people who do, it’s important to be aware of how the world of addictive substances and experiences is changing. Many people who are in a state of recovery also experienced gambling-related disorders, or are at risk of them, and keeping up to date on the emerging reality of sports betting-related harms and recovery is vital, especially as we celebrate National Recovery Month. Here’s what you need to know.
Sports Betting is Now the Most Popular Kind of Gambling
Engaging and widespread, sports betting has taken Ohio by storm, rapidly becoming the most popular kind of gambling in the state. Placing a bet is as easy as downloading an app, which has made this newly legal form of gambling widely available to many people who otherwise would not have been able to easily access a physical casino or racino. Because of this new cultural prominence of betting, many more people are being exposed than previously before, like people currently in recovery.
Sports Betting Can Put Recovery at Risk
While some people can engage with sports betting and gambling without ill effect, there are certain populations who for medical reasons experience use-related disorders, including gambling disorder. Many of these people may already be in recovery for their past substance use. Because of the potentially addictive nature of all forms of gambling, being exposed can put them at risk.
The Popularity of Sport Betting is Driving a New Awareness of Recovery
The rising availability of sports betting has also driven an increase in sports betting use disorder treatment. Built on the tried-and-true model of gambling disorder treatment, which was itself pioneered at a Veterans Administration hospital in Cleveland, sports betting use disorder treatment can put people who experience a gambling disorder as a result of sports betting on the path to recovery. Whether you are in active recovery from sports betting or just looking for resources to help you stay aware, incorporating sports betting awareness and risk management into your recovery is an important step. Here’s how to get involved.
- Be aware of the many ways to recover: How can someone who may be currently experiencing sports betting-related harms get started on the path to recovery? Check out this guide for a wide variety of resources, from self-help blocker apps to peer support and more.
- Access available help: It’s natural to have questions about sports betting and gambling, and how it all fits into recovery. The free Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline is here to help you get answers to those questions. Call 1-800-589-9966 or text HOME to 741741 to speak with a trained and understanding specialist. Virtual telehealth is also available at OhioGTN.org
- Promote recovery: Pause Before You Play offers toolkits that your organization, if relevant, can use to promote sports betting recovery by directing individuals to the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline. The toolkits can be customized with your organization’s logo and branding to help you communicate with the people you serve most effectively.
The landscape of recovery is always changing. Keep up by subscribing to the Pause Before You Play newsletter. Select the Problem Gambling Newsletter List to join. Additionally, you can follow @Pausebeforeyouplay_oh on Instagram, @PBYP_OH on X, and Pause Before You Play on Facebook.