DAYTON — Calls more than tripled to Ohio’s Problem Gambling Helpline last month compared to the same last year.
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News Center 7′s John Bedell looks into the numbers for the first full month of legal sports wagering in our state.
Sports betting became legal here in Ohio on New Year’s Day and placing a wager is now as easy as pulling up any one of several sports book apps on your phone.
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Now, we are getting a sense of how many people are using their phone to make a call to learn more about resources for problem gambling.
Bedell says the new data comes from the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio.
“January 2023, there were 1,492 calls as compared to January of 2022 where there was 456 calls,” said Derek Longmeier, Executive Director of Problem Gambling Network of Ohio. “So, more than three times the volume.”
Bedell spoke with Longmeir on Monday.
He said based on other states that launched legal sports betting before Ohio; they were expecting, as more Ohioans bet, more of them would need help from it.
But told Bedell Monday, he was not expecting as high a call volume.
“Weren’t really expecting three times the call volume,” said Longmeir. “So, we’ll see what that looks like down the road.”
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Last week, Bedell reported on the geo-location data that showed just how popular online legal sports betting was in Ohio for the Sper Bowl.
“Over Super Bowl weekend, we saw 12.8 million transactions,” said John Pappas, Senior VP of Government and Public Affairs for GeoComply. “Overall, we saw a little over 100 million transactions over the weekend. So Ohio made up about almost 13% of all transactions nationally.”
Longmeir says most of the calls into Ohio’s Gambling Helpline come from the Cleveland area, with the Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo Metro Areas coming next. The Dayton Region follows them.
He told Bedell two-thirds of statewide calls are for people or their loved ones looking for help.
The rest are unrelated to that assistance, like asking about a Mega Millions jackpot.
“Then, it’s just an opportunity to say, hey, these are the resources that are available if you know some someone who needs them,” said Longmeier.
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Bedell also reached out to the Ohio Casino Control Commission Monday about the increase in Ohio’s Problem Gambling Helpline.
“The Commission and our partners have been working to enhance and expand Ohio’s problem gambling services even prior to the launch of sports gaming,“ said Jessica Franks of the Ohio Casino Commission. “With Ohioans now able to place wagers online and on their phones, it is essential they know about and have easy access to resources and information provide Ohio’s Problem Gambling Helpline, Time Out Ohio, and Pause Before You Play.”
Visit this website for more information on the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio.
You can call PGNO at 614-750-9899.
You can reach the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.