Sports betting of some fashion is legal in over 30 states plus Washington D.C., but in 2021 there were 19 states with dead legislation according to the American Gambling Association (AGA). According to Kaiser Health News, calls to gambling hotlines in states like Michigan, Connecticut and New York spiked after the legalization of gambling in their states. Dr. Fong said there has been a mixed response from several of the other states.
“What we want to know is that any expansion of gambling does change the culture of California,” Dr. Fong said. “That changes where people spend their entertainment money, and it changes the conversations that happen inside every home.”
Addiction
Like many other addictions, including alcohol or drugs, gambling can become a problem for many individuals. According to the California Council for Problem Gamblers, problem gambling is widely recognized as a chronic disorder marked by an uncontrollable urge to gamble. It is classified under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) as a gambling disorder.
The DSM diagnostic criteria states a “persistent and recurrent problematic gambling behavior leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as indicated by the individual exhibiting four (or more) of the [criteria] in a 12 month period.”
