Several agencies with a stake in the upcoming launch of legal sports betting in Ohio are backing a new effort to alert residents to the dangers and signs of problem gambling.
Ohio For Responsible Gambling (ORG) — an initiative supported by the Ohio Lottery Commission, the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), the Ohio State Racing Commission, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services — announced Thursday the launch of its "Pause Before You Play" campaign, just days before the launch of regulated Ohio sports betting.
A "spinoff" of the ORG’s previous "Get Set Before You Bet" program, the new effort "focuses on responsible play and the nuances of sports betting that can pose problems for some gamblers," a press release said.
Amanda Blackford, the director of operations and problem gambling services for the OCCC, said in the release that the debut of retail and online sports betting sites in the state means people will be able to wager “basically anywhere” their phone can get a signal. Throw in the live betting on sports that Ohioans will be able to do and the potential for bigger losses exists, the release notes.
Legal sports betting starts soon in OH. If you need help w/ problem gambling, trained specialists will answer your call to the #ProblemGamblingHelpline 24/7 & offer free & confidential support. Call now at 1-800-589-9966 or txt 4HOPE to 741741.#BeforeYouBet #GamblingTwitter pic.twitter.com/9S6N1nk7lc
— Before You Bet (@BeforeYouBetOH) December 28, 2022
This is why the ORG's new campaign urges residents to take a beat before they bet, scan for any red flags in their behavior, weigh the risks of wagering, and set limits for themselves. Warning signs include lying about how much time or money a person spends on sports gambling or thinking too much about wagering in general.
"Sports are fast,” a video from ORG says. “Betting shouldn't be."
The latest responsible-gambling effort comes just days ahead of the start of legal sports betting in Ohio. On January 1, lottery, retail, and mobile sports betting will all begin in the state, offering residents a variety of ways to place a wager.
However, the launch in Ohio also comes as legislators and regulators are having a moment of sober second thought following some recent bad press about the industry and its practices. The Ohio Casino Control Commission has even issued two rebukes to operators before event wagering has begun in the state, sending a signal to bookmakers to be on their best behavior.
A lot to think about
Ohio could have as many as 20 online sportsbooks begin taking bets after the stroke of midnight on January 1. That’s in addition to several brick-and-mortar sportsbooks that will open at casinos, as well as the host of lottery retailers with betting kiosks.
And there are sports betting-specific concerns about addiction weighing on the minds of Ohio regulators. The ORG’s press release on Thursday cited a 2017 study that found casino and sports bettors had the highest rates of at-risk or problem gambling, at 24% and 24.3%, respectively. Moreover, the same report projected nearly one in 10 Ohio gamblers were experiencing or were at risk of developing a gambling problem, which works out to more than 900,000 people.
Blackford added in the release that problem gamblers face a higher risk of drug or alcohol use and mental health conditions, including suicidal thoughts. ORG says anyone having those thoughts should call the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which is in addition to the state’s 24/7 problem-gambling helpline that can be reached at 1-800-589-9966 or by texting 4HOPE to 741741.
"In other states that preceded Ohio in legalizing sports betting, we've seen higher interest and more struggles with problem gambling," Blackford said. "We want people to have fun and be responsible."
