Calls to the Gambling Hotline Have Increased in Michigan
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Sports betting and online gambling has taken Michigan by storm -- and our TV's with all of those commercials -- since becoming legal a few months ago, but it was expected it would come at a cost.
The Lansing State Journal reports that calls to the gambling helpline have gone up in the state since then, and it started almost right away.
...operators had collected $42.7 million in gross receipts in the first 10 days Michiganders were allowed to place bets from home.
The Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline received 563 calls in February... 5x the volume of calls compared to the year prior. An expert with Michigan State University told LSJ that the reasoning for this is tied to the increase in online gambling, which saw a huge jump during the pandemic.
The chart below reflects the spike over the last three-and-a-half years.
Between January and March, the state has made $260 million (before deductions) from online gambling. During that time, $36 million has been paid in taxes to state and local funds.
...that pay for internet gaming law enforcement, problem gambling prevention, a fund for first responders and more.
The Compulsive Gaming Prevention Fund plans on using this data and the increase in money to raise awareness to the risks of gambling.
The Michigan Gambling Helpline connects people with trained professionals who can help them identify and overcome gambling addiction. The hotline is available 24/7, free of charge, and is 100% confidential. For help, call 1-800-270-7117. Find additional resources here.
