Calls to Arizona gambling hotline increase as sports betting grows

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Whether you’re watching live sports events or hanging near popular areas like Footprint Center, it’s clear sports betting has become prominent in the Valley. But it’s not all big wins.

Since sports betting was legalized in Arizona back in 2021, calls to the 1-800-NEXT-STEP gambling hotline have risen sharply, according to the state’s Division of Problem Gambling.

Over the past few years, the division has found:

• Gross event wagering receipts totaled approximately $15.7 billion
• Over 300 hotline calls in 2021
• 614 hotline calls in 2022
• Over 700 hotline messages since 2021

With more sportsbooks popping up all across the valley, Director Elise Mikkelsen said this increase did not surprise the division at all. She said it’s something that’s been expected for awhile and doesn’t expect the numbers to go down anytime soon.

“As we see those numbers continue to increase, it’s not just a spike that has now dropped down; we’re seeing that it is staying up, then we want to make sure we have all our resources in place,” she said.

Mikkelsen said her team is still figuring out if the increase is coming from specific events or seasons in Arizona. Her team was able to see who has been utilizing the hotline and its resources the most.

“Definitely are seeing the young people responding to the text option more than the older crowd,” Mikkelson said. “We are still seeing that the significant number of people that are coming to us for assistance are over 40, but I do anticipate that could change in light of new opportunities for event wagering.”

The division subsidizes over $1 million towards treatment centers per year and is working to partner with more treatment resources to help as many Arizonans as possible.

With only more event wagering opportunities coming to Arizona, Mikkelson expects this to be a year-over-year trend, and the division is looking into building its team as demand continues to grow.

If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, contact 1-800-NEXT-STEP or CLICK HERE.

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