Kansas: With sports betting legalized, counselors worry state is unprepared for problem gambling increase

Kansas: With sports betting legalized, counselors worry state is unprepared for problem gambling increase

Article brief provided by KMUW
  • Celia Hack, KMUW
October 10, 2022 3:05 PM

The legalization of sports betting was widely celebrated this September, with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly placing a $15 bet on the Chiefs.

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But some counselors who treat problem gambling worry that sports betting could lead to an increase in addiction — and they say that Kansas isn’t allocating enough resources to handle it.

“Today, I had to work in a client who was referred by the problem gambling help line who’s gotten themselves into a lot of debt due to sports betting,” said Stephenie Roberts, a certified gambling counselor in Wichita. “And I’m just worried that we’re going to see an increase in these numbers of calls now because of the easy accessibility that online gambling has for folks.”