The New Jersey-led legalization of sports betting in 2018 and the subsequent rise of online betting have dramatically expanded the U.S. gambling industry.
By 2021 the amount legally wagered on sports had doubled to $52 billion, helping increase gambling revenue to a record $53 billion. Recently commercial casinos and online betting apps announced that last year’s revenue from betting jumped to another record, $60 billion.
Unsurprisingly, calls to the problem-gambling hotline — 1-800-GAMBLER — have more than quadrupled.
New Jersey has been working on a new program to identify potential problem gamblers online and get them help. The state Division of Gaming Enforcement launched its Responsible Gaming Initiative in January and then used last month’s Super Bowl season — the annual peak for sports betting — to announce and promote it.
