Online Gaming Spike Raises Concern in Pennsylvania
Date: 2024-08-26 Author: Robert Beloved Categories: EVENTS
Pennsylvania is one of the states where various forms of gambling are available. Visitors and residents of the state who are 21 years of age or older can participate in slots, poker, and sports betting.
In addition to more than three dozen retail locations, the state is licensed to 13 different online betting platforms, including well-known brands such as FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM, and ESPNB Bet, which offer a wide variety of sports betting options.
Following the repeal of PASPA, Pennsylvania launched retail sports betting in November 2018, and by the end of May the following year, the state had completed the opening of the online market. Since then, the state has solidified its position as one of the leaders in the U.S. betting market.
However, there is growing concern about the impact of gambling, especially with recent data showing a significant increase in online gaming participation and problem gambling calls. According to the Pennsylvania Interactive Gaming Assessment: Online Gambling Report, online gaming participation has increased from 11% in 2021 and 2022 to 16% in 2023.
The increase in online gaming participation has also impacted gambling revenue. In 2023 alone, Pennsylvania recorded $2.1 billion in online gaming revenue, up 27% from the previous year.
Of particular concern is the increase in calls related to online gaming. According to a City & State report, 20% of gambling hotline calls in 2021 and 2022 were related to online gaming. In 2023, that number rose to 34%.
Young People Most at Risk for Online Gambling Problems
The lead author of the Pennsylvania Interactive Gaming Assessment: Online Gambling Report, Glenn Sterner, an associate professor of criminal justice at Penn State Abington, spoke to the publication about the importance of gambling advertising for online gaming.
In addition to television advertising, Sterner noted that social media also helps promote online gaming. “It’s no surprise that we saw an increase from 11% to 16% in Year 3. We’re looking forward to what the numbers are in Year 4 of the report — there are early signs that there may be additional growth,” Sterner added.
According to the report, young people are more susceptible to online gambling. Co-author of the report, Jillian Russell, an associate research professor at Penn State Abington, explained that easy access to gambling and a lack of education can lead to problems in the 21- to 30-year-old group.
The expansion of online gaming has not only caused an increase in calls to hotlines in Pennsylvania. Other states, such as Illinois and Ohio, have also reported an increase in calls for help. While the rise in gambling is a boon to tax revenue, it is also a concern because the effects of gambling can be detrimental to families and not just the individual.
