The cuts come as researchers are still scrambling to understand the public health impact of a new era of sports betting, legalized in Massachusetts. Over the past year, online sports betting operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel have Advertisements flood in like an avalanche and celebrity endorsement. A growing number of adolescents and teenagers are circumventing regulations and accessing new digital gambling platforms, raising concerns that the gambling industry is sowing the seeds for a future addiction crisis.
Gamblers have been placing bets here since mobile sports betting began. Approximately $4.8 billion on various online platforms. More than 1 million betting accounts have been opened on online sports betting platforms, with about 135 million transactions recorded last year, according to data from the State Gaming Commission.
“This is exactly the wrong time to reduce funding for problem gambling,” said Democratic Rep. Adam Scanlon of North Attleboro. “It’s easier than ever for people in our state to gamble and fall into the trap of addiction, and now with these cuts we can see the program turn people away.”
A spokesperson for the Office of Management and Finance said the administration needs to look for “creative solutions” to balance the 2025 budget as tax revenues are lower than expected. This change will be his one-time reduction in the deposit amount. public health trust fund, balanced from year to year. The money will go toward supporting local aid, transportation, education and economic development, he said.
A spokesperson said in a statement that “there will be no impact to trust fund-supported programming” in fiscal year 2025.
according to law, this fund receives 5 percent of the state’s gambling revenue. The proposal seeks to reduce that percentage to 2.5%. The fund has a balance of approximately $25 million. gambling helpline We also undertake a range of initiatives to prevent problem gambling and reduce its harm.
of game committee It estimates that had the budget changes been implemented at the time, the amount the fund received in the previous fiscal year would have been reduced by $6.4 million. At the same time, Healey’s proposed budget: More than double State spending on lottery advertising increases from $4.5 million to $10 million.
lived in Massachusetts Approximately $12 million Last year, the state investigated more problem gambling services per capita than almost any other state.
But gambling researchers, public health advocates and some state legislators are losing ground in efforts to track and eradicate compulsive gambling at a time when record numbers of people are gambling online. He says he is afraid of that. In 2015, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst concluded that 2 percent of the state’s adult population (in line with the national average) had a gambling problem, and an additional 8 percent had a gambling problem in 2015. No statewide study on the prevalence of problem gambling has been published since 2010. He was in danger. In 2020, the state abruptly canceled the policy, citing funding pressures. extensive research Examining the economic and social consequences of gambling over time.
“All [gambling] Advertisements made in the past year. . . We need to get a good measure of the impact,” said Sen. John Keenan, D-Quincy. “If the industry doesn’t come forward now, we’re going to have very serious public health problems in the near future.”
Rachel Volberg, a research professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who leads much of the state’s gambling research, said she is concerned that Healey’s budget proposal will: It undermines efforts to understand the impact of legalized sports betting, including how many young people and other vulnerable populations are taking advantage of new technology and falling prey to addiction. Rates of problem gambling are significantly higher among sports bettors, primarily because they engage in a wider range of gambling activities. According to 2022 Analysis by Volberg and other Amherst, Massachusetts researchers.
“At a time when gambling opportunities are exploding across the commonwealth, we do not believe it is a good idea to reduce resources to minimize and mitigate the harms of gambling in Massachusetts,” Vol. Berg said.
Problem gambling prevention programs that could be affected by Mr. Healy’s proposals include: game senseThe program received $2.7 million in funding from the state last year and began when lawmakers legalized casino gambling in 2011. The program employs green-shirted staff on casino floors who are trained to identify gamblers at risk of developing gambling problems and can help manage them. . Restrict their actions by setting limits or voluntarily prohibiting them from betting. GameSense’s advisor provides his 24-hour support to people betting online through a live chat service.
Marlene Warner CEO Massachusetts Gaming and Health CouncilThe nonprofit organization, which supports and advocates for people with gambling problems, said the budget changes “could have a devastating impact” on GameSense and other assistance programs.
“While we are still trying to assess the impact of one year of online sports betting, it would be short-sighted to cut critical services to those at risk,” she said.
In the last three months of 2023, GameSense advisors had about 44,000 interactions with gamblers at the state’s three licensed casinos, according to the State Gaming Health Council, which operates the program under a government contract. and responded to over 1,300 live chat requests. Game Committee.
Many of GameSense’s advisors are former casino employees and are familiar with the signs of a gambling problem.
Jolyn Barreuther worked at the casino’s craps, roulette, blackjack, and baccarat tables for 25 years before becoming Encore Boston Harbor’s GameSense manager. Ms Baruyter said she decided to make the career move because she felt guilty dealing with bettors who were clearly suffering from gambling problems and because she felt she could not help. said.
Now, Baruyter can step in and help people set voluntary betting limits and connect them with addiction support groups such as: Gamblers Anonymous.
“It was painful to work on the other side of the table and watch great people slowly fall apart,” she said. “Sometimes I felt like I was contributing to the habit. At least now I can make a difference in people’s lives.”
Chris Serres can be reached at [email protected] him @ChrisSerres.
