As rates of problem gambling among African-Americans in Lucas County reach record levels, critics of the sports betting industry have begun to question whether large gaming companies are consciously targeting Black people.
According to a 2022 study conducted by Ohio for Responsible Gambling, 59.8 percent of African-Americans in Lucas County who gamble can be classified as “At-Risk/Problem Gamblers.” Only 19.5 percent of white gamblers and 19.4 percent of gamblers of other races are so classified.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal prohibition on commercial sports betting in 2018, sports gambling has become an enormous industry.
Americans wagered a record $119.84 billion on sporting contests in 2023, according to the American Gaming Association, which is up 27.5 percent from 2022.
