Calls to the state’s problem-gambling hotline are on pace to set a record this year after the N.C. General Assembly made mobile sports betting legal in the state.
The annual record for calls to the hotline is 1,006 in 2012. The hotline has received 9,884 calls since its inception in January 2012.
Since the March 11 launch of legal mobile sports wagering, the hotline has received 684 calls, with 157 calls in March, followed by a record 159 in April, 111 in May and 109 in June.
To put the number of calls into perspective, more than 375,000 North Carolina adults have created at least one account with one of the eight eligible sports wagering operators.
The law that made betting legal also dedicates $2 million in tax revenue to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services for gambling addiction education and treatment programs.
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According to DHHS statistics, March has consistently been the month with the most calls, likely tied to betting on the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments.
About 80% of callers have identified themselves as problem gamblers, while the other 20% say they are calling out of concern for someone else.
As would be expected with major sporting events taking place in the evening or at night, 56% of hotline calls this year has been made during what DHHS refers to as its second intake shift, along with 30% during first shift and 15% during third shift.
Men make up about 55% of the callers, with most of the calls coming from those ages 25 to 44.
The latest report includes information about of gambling’s impact on callers’ personal lives and finances.
By far the biggest impact expressed by callers, at 61%, was some form of stress, depression or anxiety. About 15% of callers said they felt alienated from family and 13% said they had lost a primary relationship.
In terms of financial impact, 41% of callers said their gambling issues caused them problems with paying their household bills; 29% said they have had to borrow money from family and friends to pay bills; 26% are in major credit card debt; and 17% have had to draw down their savings or turn to an equity line of credit.
“Sports betting usually starts as a form of entertainment but, for some, can become problematic,” DHHS said. “Gambling can become addictive, just like other behaviors and substances.
“We have refocused our prevention programs, and our education program for treatment providers has focused heavily on sports betting.
“Our goal remains that anyone who wants or needs help has access to quality and consistent care and services.”
DHHS said signs of problem gambling can include: using sports betting to relieve stress or depressive feelings; spending increasing amounts of time or money on gambling; preoccupation and irritability when trying to cut back or not gambling; placing bets on credit or with money allocated for other things; chasing losses (gambling to earn back money that was lost gambling); lying or being secretive about gambling; attempting to cut back without success; and only talking about wins and never losses.
As of Tuesday, 118 have signed up for the state’s confidential Voluntary Self-Exclusion program, the lottery said.
People who sign the program cannot place bets in the states, nor can they collect winnings.
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