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Researchers and advocates urge stronger prevention, centralized treatment and industry safeguards for problem gambling
Summary
Researchers and the Council on Compulsive Gambling told lawmakers that prevalence and helpline calls have risen since sports betting expanded; witnesses recommended centralized coordination of services, targeted prevention for youth, and stronger funding for treatment and outreach.
Researchers, public‑health advocates and the state’s problem‑gambling council urged the joint committee to treat expanded online sports betting as a public health issue, describing data on concentrated betting behavior, youth exposure, and rising demand for help.
Dr. Leah Nower of Rutgers’ Center for Gambling Studies summarized a decade of data: a small share of bettors account for a large share of wagering and spending ("4% of sports betters place 40% of the bets and spend 57% of the money," she said), mixed‑venue betting correlates with higher risk, and younger cohorts are increasingly involved. Rutgers’ 2023 prevalence work found roughly 61% of residents reported gambling in the…
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