The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling reports a dramatic 88% surge in hotline calls within the past year, marking a troubling trend linked to the explosion of online sports betting.
Platforms like the Hard Rock Bet app, which launched over a year ago, have made sports betting incredibly accessible and, for some, dangerously addictive.
Alarming Impact on Young Adults
According to recent data, the largest demographic affected by gambling addiction is men between the ages of 20 and 25. Forrest Arthur, CEO of Resurgence Tampa Bay, notes the compulsive nature of online sports betting: “It can, in certain people, be highly addictive in terms of it becoming a compulsive behavior.
People may want to stop, but they keep being compelled to do it in a repetitive fashion. It can be very powerful.” Resurgence Tampa Bay works directly with individuals battling gambling addiction and witnesses firsthand how detrimental it can become.
March Madness Sparks Worry
With March Madness in full swing, the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling is preparing for yet another surge in hotline calls.
The American Gaming Association projects that Americans will wager approximately $3.1 billion on the tournament this year, up from $2.7 billion last year. Experts warn that the high accessibility of betting apps further exacerbates the issue, reports Fox News.
Arthur elaborates, “Most people gamble on their cell phones, and we carry our cell phones around with us all the time, so the person trying to recover from this will really struggle given the fact that they typically have access to it right in their pockets.”
What Can Be Done?
Breaking free from gambling addiction is no easy task, but experts emphasize that it is achievable with time and commitment.
Arthur urges caution to individuals considering sports betting: “The first thing I would do is just encourage people not to do it, because you don’t know if you’re one of the people that is going to be susceptible to that compulsive behavior or not.”
Additional Steps to Address the Crisis
Advocates are calling for increased public awareness campaigns and stronger regulatory measures to combat the rising addiction rates.
Treatment centers like Resurgence Tampa Bay are working tirelessly to provide resources and support for those impacted. As Florida grapples with this growing issue, the focus remains on helping individuals regain control over their lives.
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