March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month in Vermont.
This public education campaign took on added significance with the launch of the state's online sports betting program on January 11th.
Vermont Public's Bob Kinzel recently sat down with Morning Edition host Jen Jarecki to discuss the latest information on gambling programs and why this form of gambling is considered more addictive than other forms of gambling. Ta. This interview was created for your ears. We highly recommend listening to the audio. We also provide a transcript that has been edited for length and clarity.
Jen Jarecki: Bob, let's start by looking at how this online sports betting program has performed in its first few months. So what do we know at this stage?
Bob Kinsel: Well, Jen, we have the first seven weeks of data. State officials are pleased with the program's rollout. So let's look at some statistics. Approximately $41 million was wagered in Vermont during this time, generating nearly $2 million in new revenue for the state, more than expected. It has 47,000 active users, 60% of whom are from Vermont, and about 28,000. 40% are from out of state, or about 19,000 people. And I must say that this is different from the first report, where there were a large number of participants from outside the state. Now, this group of people, including both inside and outside the state, have placed almost 2 million bets over the past seven weeks.
Liquor and Lottery Commissioner Wendy Knight believes these numbers show there is significant pent-up demand for these gambling programs.
Wendy Knight: I think the launch is going very smoothly. There aren't that many complaints or issues. We launched at the right time to generate some revenue from the beginning.
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Bob Kinsel: Jen, it's interesting that out-of-state athletes make up 40% of the total participants, so Commissioner Knight thinks there's a lot of potential for these programs during eclipse weekend in early April. about it. Because this is when the final NCAA basketball games are played. A tournament will also be held in Vermont, and tens of thousands of people are expected to attend. So we'll have to see how this goes. But who would have thought there might be a connection between solar eclipses and online sports betting?
Jen Jarecki: Last time we talked about sports betting, Bob, didn't you say you can bet on anything these days?
Bob Kinsel: Absolutely true. And there will definitely be bets to be made that have something to do with the eclipse itself.
Jen Jarecki: I wouldn't be surprised.
But, Bob, professional sports leagues now seem to have fully embraced online betting. But wasn't there a time when these leagues were seriously trying to distance themselves from gambling?
Bob Kinsel: That’s true, Jen. You know, there were some college basketball scandals in the 1950s and his '60s. Then there's the case of baseball player Pete Rose, who was banned from the Hall of Fame for betting on baseball games as manager of the Cincinnati Reds. But wow, times have changed. In fact, some sports betting companies are now sponsoring professional sports leagues.
So the question is, why is this happening? Commissioner Knight said sports leagues recognize this is a way to keep people watching the entire game.
Wendy Knight: There is no doubt that they are embracing online sports betting to encourage participation and interest in the sport itself and to watch the games on television. And it's more appealing for people to watch that match and bet a little bit on what will happen in the match.
Bob Kinsel: Now, Jen, I would like to mention that concerns have recently been raised in the National Basketball Association about the potential influence of gambling on these sporting events. That's what happened when Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves was called for his sixth foul of the game — meaning he fouled out. Now, he turned to one of the referees and accused the person of making a statement to influence betting on the match. And that was quite a statement for him. Well, the NBA was not at all happy with this development and immediately fined Gobert $100,000.
But I think this incident shows people that the use of sports betting is growing. Large sums of money can be wagered in some of these games, raising concerns that gambling and sports results may be somehow linked.
“Some people will become addicted to gambling, some people will have gambling problems. There will be social consequences as well.”
Gary Mitchell, sports addiction counselor
Jen Jarecki: As I mentioned at the beginning, Bob, March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month. What types of programs are available to states to provide services for problem gambling?
Bob Kinsel: Well, Vermont's program is run by the Department of Mental Health. And our medical director, Dr. Kelly Klein, will be in charge of that. And she said online sports betting is more addictive than other forms of gambling. why? The cell phone is available to her 24/7. You can bet whenever you want. And Dr. Klein says a rush of chemicals occurs when a person makes multiple bets during a game.
Dr. Kelly Klein: If you look at it scientifically, when someone wins or loses, a large amount of dopamine is released in the brain, right? And it is because of dopamine that we become addicted. Therefore, if you do it over and over again during one sporting event, you will end up with far more dopamine being released during that period than if the final score were only one.
Bob Kinsel: Jen, Dr. Klein told me that approximately one in four people who participate in online sports betting have a gambling problem. And about 1 in 20 people actually suffer from a gambling addiction.
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Jen Jarecki: What services does the state provide to people who feel they may have a gambling problem?
Bob Kinsel: Jen, the Department of Mental Health has a Problem Gambling Hotline that provides resources to people. Therefore, when you call this number, you will be referred to a local peer counselor. Its hotline number is 1-800-522-4700. Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can always find it on our website. And Dr. Klein says recognizing the problem early is absolutely critical.
Dr. Kelly Klein: And now, all of a sudden, they find themselves waking up at 2 a.m. and thinking, “Is there a tennis match going on in Russia right now?” And this again shows that it is a problem with gambling behavior and that an addiction may be forming. And we really want people to be aware of these signs and to contact us as soon as they start happening, rather than when the situation becomes very difficult to manage.
Bob Kinsel: And, Jen, if you feel like you have a problem with gambling, you can also voluntarily exclude yourself from all of these gambling apps. This, in turn, brings them directly into the state's peer counseling program.
Jen Jarecki: Bob, do you feel that state officials are allocating sufficient resources to deal with the growing number of problem gamblers in Vermont?
Bob Kinsel: I will do that. About $250,000 has been allocated to the program this year, but not everyone agrees that's enough money.
Gary Mitchell is an internationally certified sports addiction counselor at Hardwick. He believes the problem with gambling is much bigger than state officials expected. And he's very concerned that some gamblers don't realize they have a serious problem.
Gary Mitchell: This is because some people become addicted to gambling. Some people may have gambling problems. There will also be social implications. It doesn't mean “that won't happen”. No, it will happen. Statistically, that's true. They didn't see it coming. And I think bringing that awareness to the public is where the state can really help a lot.
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vermont public
Jen Jarecki: Do these online sports betting companies have a target audience to advertise to?
Bob Kinsel: Jen, that's true. It's men between the ages of 21 and 40. And addiction counselor Mitchell is concerned about this group of people.
Gary Mitchell: This is something of a wake-up call. Because that's the group we're least concerned about. In this case, that's probably the population of most concern. In other words, the dynamics of who is at risk change. And, again, from an addiction perspective, it may be something we're completely unprepared for.
Bob Kinsel: Vermont Jenn has several safety measures in place. He must be over 21 years old to place a bet, which is different from Rhode Island and New Hampshire where he is 18 years old. There are some issues going on there. To sign up for these gambling apps, you will also need to submit a photo of yourself and a copy of your driver's license. Additionally, credit cards cannot be used under any circumstances.
Jen Jarecki: Again, the phone number for the Vermont Problem Gambling Hotline is 1-800-522-4700.
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