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The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) released the largest ever gambling survey conducted in the United States in April 2021. The results show a mix of developing attitudes towards the soaring popularity of legalized online gambling. While participation at legal online casinos is on the rise, consumers concerned about gambling addictions lack resources, and those under 35 are most at-risk for gambling addictions, says the NCPG.
The NCPG gathered information from over 28,000 respondents across states on questions regarding gambling frequency, attitudes towards gambling in general, and opinions on gambling addictions. The survey includes over 170 charts and can be found in its entirety on the NCPG website.
Sports Gambling Grows, Along With Attitudes Towards Addiction
In the U.S., where many states are a battleground between progressives and those who oppose legalization on moral grounds, this survey will undoubtedly come under consideration. When asked about the dangers of gambling, 71 percent of respondents agreed that gambling addiction is as serious as a drug or alcohol addiction, and 63 percent stated that the gambling industry has a responsibility to help those with addictions. At the same time, 57 percent agreed that gambling is not immoral.
The concern is that half of the participants aged 35 and under responded “yes” to at least one indicator of “risky behavior.” This suggests that younger gamblers are more at-risk than their older counterparts, although the numbers are low. Only 7 percent of people reported experiencing addictive behaviors.
This national and state survey found that participation in both online and in brick-and-mortar casinos is flourishing, with overall gambling up by 73 percent from recent years. This is partially due to the increasing amount of states legalizing sportsbooks and online casinos. Traditional sports betting is up 20 percent while betting on card games is up 23 percent.
According to the NCPG, the issue is that a large portion of individuals participating in sports betting are between 21 and 45 — encompassing those deemed “at-risk.”
Survey Shows Need for Improving Services
Another troubling statistic from this survey is that a large portion of individuals surveyed said that they did not know where or how to get help if they or a friend had an addiction. Fewer still were aware of any community resources that combat addiction.
Keith Whyte, the Executive Director of NCPG, explained that the results show that there is room for casinos and governments to improve their gambling addiction services. “We hope the new reports spur the public and private sectors to redouble their efforts to implement policies and allocate resources to create a safer gambling environment, as well as assist those who show signs of gambling addiction or are in recovery,” stated Whyte.
Enthusiasm for Gambling Has Positive Economic Outlook
The questionnaire did show that, on average, gamblers' attitudes remain level-headed towards the activity. Of individuals who have spent money in a casino last year, 51 per cent saw it as a “social activity” where they can enjoy casinos' amenities. In comparison, 26 per cent were “gambling just to gamble,” and 21 per cent just saw it as a way to “socialize with peers.”
The NCPG survey is in line with economic forecasts that show that legalized online gambling will continue to grow in popularity and rake in millions in tax revenue for states. The surge in popularity is partially due to changing laws and the development of communities and directories online, that make it easy to find which states have legal online gambling options in the U.S., like JustGamblers.com, along with dozens of message boards on Reddit, Quora, and groups on Facebook. With regulation, players no longer fear scams and have more knowledge of fairness algorithms, leading them to play more often.
Currently, 20 states and the District of Columbia allow sports betting. In contrast, only a handful of states have legalized online casino games (the survey found that despite bans, casinos are “nonetheless available to anyone with access to a computer”). As more states legalize this popular hobby, these reports will play a role in the key arguments.
- Payton O'Brien, Gambling911.com Senior Editor
