Arizona problem gambling hotline calls have increased since Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill to legalize sports betting in the Grand Canyon State in 2021. Arizona’s 1-800-NEXT-STEP gambling hotline was dialed over 300 times that year. 

Arizona problem gambling hotline calls have surged since sports betting was legalized in the state in 2021

After the legalization of sports betting, there were about 615 calls made in 2022, twice as many as the year prior. The state’s text hotline also received more than 700 messages after legalization. 

According to the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG), about 89% of respondents indicated that they had gambled at some point in their lives. 

Seven in 10 (69%) of Arizona adults have gambled in the past year and one in four (23%) gambles monthly or more often. Approximately 10% of Arizona adults gamble weekly or more often. 

“What may have been, for most people, a very fun, entertaining activity has suddenly taken a dark turn. … They find themselves in financial trouble, personal trouble, even health-related issues,” said Elise Mikkelsen, Director of the Arizona Division of Problem Gambling.

ADG utilized the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOG-R) and NORC DSM-IV Screen for Gambling Problems (NODS) to study and measure problem gambling in the state.

The SOG-R revealed that pathological gambling in Arizona is 0.7%. The current prevalence of problem gambling is also 1.6%. The overall prevalence rate of problem and pathological gambling is 2.3%. 

Based on the NODS, the lifetime prevalence of problem and pathological gambling in Arizona is 2.1%. The national rate is 2.7%. It should be noted that six in 10 problem gamblers in Arizona are working full-time.  

One in three Arizona adults have ever wagered on horse or dog races, sports, and private games, per ADG

About one in three Arizona adults have ever wagered on horse or dog races, sports, and private games. Lifetime participation rates are below 20% for all other types of gambling. 

The types of gambling that Arizona adults are more likely to partake in on a regular basis include playing the lottery, casino games, and private wagering, according to ADG. 

Roughly half of all bettors in Arizona said that gambling at a casino is their favorite type of gambling. Another 10% of gamblers in the state indicated that playing the lottery is their favorite type of gambling.

More importantly, the National Council for Problem Gambling (NCPG) revealed in a 2022 study that addiction to sports betting is now “at least twice as high as among gamblers.”

“The rate of gambling problems among sports bettors is at least twice as high as among gamblers in general. When sports gambling is conducted online, the rate of problems is even higher. One study of online sports gamblers indicates that 16% met clinical criteria for gambling disorder. Another 13% showed some signs of gambling problems.”

Furthermore, the state posted a record betting handle of $6.5 billion in 2023. Arizona also collected $343 million in revenue. Licensed gambling operators paid about $34.3 million in taxes.

Arizona residents who are suffering from a gambling addiction are urged to text NEXTSTEP to 53342 or call 1-800-NEXT-STEP.