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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 study period; about 19% reported some level of problems and just under 6% met high‑risk criteria consistent with gambling disorder.
Nower and other researchers recommended a comprehensive, evidence‑based framework to coordinate prevention, research, training and treatment. "Centralize all problem gambling initiatives through one entity," she told the committee, describing a University of Maryland model as an example of a single center that coordinates research, policy, training, prevention and outcome evaluation.
The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey reported that calls to the 800‑GAMBLER helpline rose by 277% since the onset of sports betting in 2018 and said most helpline callers are younger men; the council said it receives under 0.5% of gaming tax revenue despite the higher service demand. Felicia Grandin described treatment gaps, stigma, limited targeted services for high‑risk subgroups and the council’s request for greater funding and statewide prevention messaging.
Industry witnesses described responsible‑gaming tools in greater detail. Lori Calani of DraftKings said the company deploys education, repeated prompts, limit settings and stepped interventions—up to screen blockers and a planned “real‑time review” questionnaire—to identify and act on risky behavior. DraftKings and other operators said they are collaborating on a national data clearinghouse and on college education programs to increase financial‑literacy and responsible play.
Panelists and legislators also singled out offshore and sweepstakes operators as an acute problem for youth exposure and for undermining regulated safeguards; witnesses named apps such as Chumba as examples of sites that can be accessed by minors without KYC or geolocation checks.
Committee members asked for evidence on treatment outcomes and for better tracking of whether those who are identified by operators enter care; industry and providers agreed to follow up with additional information. The hearing closed with a commitment to continue coordinating legislative and regulatory responses.
