ARKANSAS, USA — The Arkansas Problem Gambling Council (ARPG) is seeing a surge in callers needing help.
In 2023 the nonprofit received 7,000 calls, which was up 22% from 2022.
Arkansans approved casino gaming in 2018. This recent increase could be a result of an increase in users on sports betting casino apps, which were legalized in 2022.
"Sports betting was not a significant portion of casino revenue. The numbers weren't anything impressive for the first three years. That's changing," said Scott Hardin, spokesperson for the Department of Finance and Administration. "The state's three casinos all have their own sports betting apps, and that changed the game. That changed everything."
In 2022 total sports wagers in the state were $186 million. In 2023, that increased to $404 million with 90% being through apps. The state collected $5 million in tax revenue in 2023.
Now, advertisements are all over TV and social media, telling viewers what the best deal on the best app is.
"There is so much more advertising. So before the mobile option, the app option was launched here in Arkansas, in 2022 you really didn't see any casinos advertising the fact that you could play sports wagers there," Hardin said. "They are everywhere, and they're continuing to run, and it is extremely competitive between the state's three casinos."
ARPG works to provide resources and programs for people struggling with gambling problems. After sports betting became legal in 2018, they are allocated $200,000 each year from the state to help with their mission.
"Any given day we get crisis calls for folks that have lost money online, that need housing, that need food assistance, that need Bill Pay assistance, or just financial resources," said Vena Schexnayder, Executive Director for ARPG.
With an increase in people gambling through apps come an increase in those needing help. ARPG is now looking for more funding to keep up with these trends.
"For the last couple of years that the casino apps have been active, we've seen an increase in calls, a different kind of call," Schexnayder said. "With the sports betting increase, we want to be prepared to get the workforce prepared with mental health specialists, to be able to have the right education to take these kinds of calls and also see an increase in programming and financial literacy for our organization."
The convivence of the sports betting apps is something Schexnayder wants for gambling problem resources as well.
"You are only one click away right from betting live on any event worldwide through the sports betting apps that are on hosted by the three local casino organizations in the state," Schexnayder added. "We've got some work to do to get prepared for, I hate to say it a public health crisis that in. Includes digital communications in the sense of online betting. For my mental health and addiction specialist to take up that call, to be able to help answer the calls, to provide services, to do many things like messaging for prevention training and programming across the state of Arkansas."
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