Sports betting boom fuels need for addiction services | FOX 10 Phoenix

In 2021, Arizona went all in on legalized sports betting. Recently, the state has seen record-breaking numbers, but the house always wins. Sportsbooks continue to collect a large majority of the revenue while the state gets a much smaller cut. Meanwhile, more gamblers are seeking help for addiction.

March Madness is underway, but these days, gamblers don’t have to come to brick-and-mortar sportsbooks to win big. They’re mostly on their phones, chasing their losses as the state’s problem gambling division is getting more texts for help.

The Phoenix market is a major hub for professional sports, well-represented in the biggest leagues – namely the NFL, MLB, and NBA.

Nearly 40 U.S. states have some form of legalized sports betting. In four years, Arizona jumped into the top 10, ranking seventh in the amount of money wagered by bettors, behind states like New York, New Jersey, and Nevada, according to data collected by Legal Sports report.

Gamblers in Arizona have wagered $22.3 billion as of November 2024 per the Arizona Department of Gaming. So, is this a betting boom?

If you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, help is available. Call 1-800-NEXTSTEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342.

Subscribe to FOX 10 Phoenix!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjfNLnQYbjBEvnS8KFuyGQ?sub_confirmation=1

#sportsbetting #sports #gambling

FOX 10 Phoenix delivers breaking news, live events, politics, entertainment, business news and local stories from Phoenix, Arizona and across the nation.

Watch more FOX 10 Phoenix on YouTube:

Arizona headlines: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjk-Nxa5HqPspsiXA-zX6H0bKdtUu-8rF
National headlines: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjk-Nxa5HqPtq-kkrH0cQ3ZIYpLj5MGVT
Top videos of the week: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjk-Nxa5HqPtUghAGmV3byRgXEYXhZFT3