New Jersey state Sen. John F. McKeon is calling for the state to address gambling addiction through prevention, marketplace safeguards, and better access to treatment. In a Nov. 1 opinion essay published by nj, he argues that the issue belongs within public health, rather than solely with casinos and gambling regulators.
McKeon’s appeal follows nearly 50 years of New Jersey leadership in gambling, spanning Atlantic City casinos, online casinos, and sports betting.
McKeon cites a 2023 Rutgers University study that placed New Jersey’s high-risk problem gambling rate at about three times the national average. Among high-risk problem gamblers surveyed, nearly 28% reported suicidal thoughts and 20% reported having attempted suicide.
He argues that gambling problems can involve debt, damaged relationships, lost jobs, and serious behavioral health challenges.
