UNH study links online sports betting to 23 per cent rise in helpline calls
The research also found online and app-based betting rose by 31 per cent, and that younger men were particularly exposed to gambling-related harm.
Key takeaways:
- A University of New Hampshire (UNH) study has associated the expansion of online sports betting with a 23 per cent increase in calls to the National Problem Gambling Helpline.
- Online and app-based betting increased by 31 per cent, while traditional forms of gambling declined.
- Lead author Gorkem Turgut Ozer called for better training for gambling providers, greater access to mental health services and targeted support for vulnerable groups.
US.- A study by the University of New Hampshire (UNH) has linked the expansion of online sports betting with a 23 per cent increase in calls to the National Problem Gambling Helpline. The research also found a rise in the use of digital gambling platforms and identified younger men as a group particularly exposed to gambling-related harm.
The findings point to changes in both the profile of people seeking help and the way they gamble. Online and app-based betting increased by 31 per cent, while traditional forms of gambling declined. Men accounted for 70 per cent of helpline callers, and half of those who contacted the service were between 18 and 34 years old.
The research also found a 3.1 per cent increase in suicide rates attributed to problem gambling. Its authors identified younger, unmarried and less-educated men as more likely to develop unhealthy gambling habits.
Gorkem Turgut Ozer, assistant professor of decision sciences at UNH’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics and lead author of the study, said the findings highlighted the risks associated with the shift towards digital betting: “Our key finding highlights a divide: the negative consequences manifest primarily when the activity shifts online. The widespread accessibility of mobile gambling coincided with a measurable uptick in problem gambling hotline calls and elevated suicide rates.”
The researchers argue that online access to gaming has intensified previous risks risks. Ozer said the combination of real-time feedback and unrestricted access could make compulsive behaviour more likely. “Integrating real-time feedback loops with unrestricted betting access creates an environment with a lower threshold for potential compulsive behaviour,” he said.
To address these risks, Ozer called for better training for gambling providers, greater access to mental health services and targeted support for groups considered more vulnerable to gambling-related harm.
In September, the New Hampshire Senate voted 13-11 to advance Senate Bill 104, which would legalise online casino gaming.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- Who is most affected by problem gambling, according to the study? The researchers identified younger, unmarried and less-educated men as more likely to develop unhealthy gambling habits. Men accounted for 70 per cent of helpline callers, and half of all callers were between 18 and 34 years old.
- What did the study recommend? Lead author Gorkem Turgut Ozer called for better training for gambling providers, greater access to mental health services and targeted support for groups considered more vulnerable to gambling-related harm.
- Is New Hampshire considering legalising online casino gaming? In September, the state Senate voted 13-11 to advance Senate Bill 104, which would legalise online casino gaming. The bill now goes to the Senate Finance Committee. Lottery projections estimate US$5m in revenue in the first year, rising to US$30m by the third.
