TAMPA, Fla. — March Madness is just around the corner, and while that might be exciting for most, this year it has people who help treat those with a gambling addiction cringing.
That is because the number of people turning to them for help has more than doubled since Florida’s new sports app went online. The Seminole Hard Rock Casino expanded its table games and launched its online sports betting app in November 2023.
In that short time, call centers say the number of people reaching out to them with gambling addiction issues has soared.
Mitchell Himes doesn’t consider himself a gambling addict, but he admits he visits the casino in Tampa more often than he probably should.
“I don't think I would ever call a gambling hotline even though sometimes it could be a problem,” Himes said. “I mean, I say I'm done gambling and then the next day here I am right back at the casino.”
Himes says it doesn’t surprise him that the number of people reaching out for gambling addiction help has spiked recently. The app, he says, makes betting almost too simple.
“Because it's right there in your hand. It's right on your phone,” Himes explained. “It's as easy as sending a text message or making a phone call and you can be right there on your phone.”
The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling says its hotline has seen the number of calls for help surge by more than 130%. At that rate, they expect to field around 40,000 calls this year — up from 26,000 last year.
The Seminole Tribe says it’s given more than $24 million to the FCCG over the years, and consistently promotes the 1-888-ADMIT-IT helpline.
Organizations are now turning to state lawmakers, asking them for more money to answer more calls.
“The average across the United States is about $.40 per capita. Florida per capita public funding allocation is six cents,” FCCG Executive Director Jennifer Kruse recently told lawmakers in Tallahassee.
Organizations that help people battling gambling addiction say they're also concerned because the introduction of sports apps is still relatively new and the number of people trying them continues to grow.
The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling says right now its staff has been able to keep up with the increased number of calls, but if the trend continues they will likely need more help.