Florida saw 88% increase gambling addiction outreach in 2024
Published:
Mar 25, 2025
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02:23 p.m.
ET
Key Points
Gambling addiction outreach is increasing at an alarming rate in Florida.
Despite only having one legal sportsbook available, sports betting is increasingly popular.
More needs to be done in Florida for Responsible Gaming education and increasing awareness of specialized gambling addiction treatment options.
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Florida has witnessed a sharp rise in problem gambling calls, with the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling reporting an 88% increase in outreach to its gambling hotline last year. As the state's online sports betting market has grown, so too has the number of individuals seeking help for problem gambling.
The numbers tell a stark story: the council received 34,000 calls in 2023, but that number skyrocketed to 61,000 in 2024. The majority of these calls came from men aged 20-25, a demographic heavily engaged with sports betting apps like Hard Rock Bet, Florida’s only legal sportsbook.
While Florida’s sports betting market is still in relative infancy, trends over the first few years suggest the state is following a dangerous pattern seen elsewhere, where rapid gambling expansion leads to a rise in addiction, financial distress and calls for stronger responsible gaming measures.
Initial spike in gambling addiction outreach in Florida
Legalized sports betting in Florida launched on December 7, 2023, and 45 days later, the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling was overwhelmed, already experiencing a 138% spike in outreach.
With 2025 March Madness now through its opening weekend and the American Gaming Association expecting national betting to surpass $3.1 billion, experts warn that Florida’s problem gambling rates may climb even higher. The state’s unique sports betting landscape – a single-operator monopoly, unregulated offshore sites and a booming daily fantasy sports (DFS) market – adds further complexity to the issue.
Understanding how Florida got here requires a deeper look at its long and contentious path to sports betting legalization.
History of sports betting legalization in FL
Florida’s journey to legal sports betting has been anything but straightforward. While many states moved quickly to establish competitive markets after the 2018 repeal of PASPA (the federal law prohibiting sports betting), Florida’s path was delayed by legal battles, tribal agreements and political disputes.
At the center of it all is the Seminole Tribe, which has long held exclusive rights over much of Florida’s gaming industry. In 2021, the state finalized a landmark deal – the 2021 Gaming Compact – which granted the tribe a monopoly on sports betting in exchange for revenue-sharing payments. This meant that all legal wagers, whether placed in-person or online, had to be processed through servers on tribal land.
The agreement was immediately met with lawsuits from casino operators and anti-gambling groups, leading to a court-ordered suspension of sports betting just weeks after its initial rollout. It wasn’t until December 2023, following a lengthy legal battle, that the Hard Rock Bet app was officially relaunched, cementing the Seminole Tribe’s dominance over Florida’s sports betting market.
Unlike states with multiple operators competing for customers, Florida’s system is unique. Hard Rock Bet is the only legal sportsbook, limiting consumer options and raising concerns about responsible gambling measures. Some argue that this lack of competition may be contributing to the state’s surge in gambling addiction cases.
Book an appointment with Birches Health, or call 833-483-3838 or email help@bircheshealth.com to connect with a care specialist.
Is Hard Rock Bet the only sports betting option in FL?
Despite Hard Rock Bet’s exclusivity, Florida bettors aren’t short on choices, and many continue to use offshore sportsbooks and daily fantasy sports (DFS) platforms to place wagers.
Offshore sportsbooks remain popular due to their long-standing presence in the market. Bovada alone controls a major share of Florida’s sports betting market, per a recent study, signaling that many bettors still use unregulated platforms instead of the regulated option, Hard Rock Bet. These offshore books offer competitive odds, different bonuses and fewer restrictions but come with legal risks, lack of consumer protections and guaranteed payouts.
Meanwhile, daily fantasy sports (DFS) platforms operate in a legal gray area in Florida. While they aren’t classified as traditional sportsbooks, DFS contests allow users to wager money on player performances, blurring the lines between fantasy sports and sports betting. Many Florida bettors turn to these platforms as an alternative to Hard Rock Bet, particularly for prop-style wagers and daily contests.
The continued presence of offshore books and DFS platforms complicates the gambling landscape, making it harder to regulate problem gambling and implement responsible gaming measures.
Florida’s gambling help increases vs. other states
Florida’s 88% rise in gambling addiction hotline calls is one of the most dramatic increases in the country, reflecting the rapid expansion of online sports betting. However, problem gambling isn’t just a Florida-specific issue. States across the U.S. are seeing spikes in addiction-related calls as legal sports betting becomes more accessible.
New Jersey, one of the most established sports betting markets, has also seen concerning trends, particularly among younger gamblers. Calls to New Jersey’s gambling helpline have surged 277% since the state legalized online sports betting in 2018. Like Florida, many of the recent calls have come from individuals under the age of 25, with most being young men struggling with sports betting. Overall, New Jersey’s problem gambling rate is significantly higher than the national average, with 10% of men aged 18-20 classified as gambling addicts, which is more than three times the U.S. average of 3%.
Other states are facing similar issues. Virginia reported a staggering 973% increase in gambling helpline callers from 2019 to 2023, while Ohio saw a 227% jump in just one year. In Massachusetts, calls to gambling support services rose by 121% between mid-2022 and mid-2023.
Despite these rising numbers, New Jersey and other states with multiple sportsbook operators have implemented broader responsible gambling initiatives, which help distribute betting activity more evenly and provide more resources for those in need. In contrast, Florida’s single-operator model has fueled concerns over monopolization and a lack of competitive safeguards, potentially contributing to the state’s sharp rise in gambling addiction cases.
The trends across the U.S. paint a clear picture: as sports betting grows, so does problem gambling – especially among young men.
Gambling Addiction Treatment in Florida
As gambling addiction surges, the need for accessible treatment options has never been greater. Problem gamblers often face financial hardship, emotional distress and strained relationships, making it essential to provide effective support systems.
For those struggling with gambling addiction in Florida, Birches Health offers virtual care, allowing individuals to receive treatment from the comfort of home, with therapists who are experienced and certified in treating the complex aspects of gambling addiction. To get started with Birches or learn more you can:
Call 833-483-3838
Email help@bircheshealth.com
