Gambling Addiction Rates Skyrocketing in Kansas
Published:
Oct 9, 2025
,
05:54 p.m.
ET
At-risk gambling behaviors are surging in Kansas just three years after the state legalized sports betting. New findings from the 2025 Kansas Gambling Addiction Survey reveal Kansas residents are gambling more often, losing more money and showing significantly higher rates of problem gambling than ever before.
The studies paint a clear picture in the state, with widespread access to digital betting platforms shifting gambling from an occasional pastime to a daily behavior for many Kansas constituents. What once required an in-person visit to a casino or lottery counter is now only a tap away on phones.
Findings from new gambling survey in Kansas
The 2025 Kansas Gambling Survey was conducted with more than 1,600 residents. Here are some of the findings.
Gambling activity increasing
Nearly 71% of Kansas adults reported betting in the past year, compared to less than half in 2017.
Frequency of play has also changed. In 2017, only 2.7% of Kansans said they gambled “often.” By 2025, that figure rose to 8.6%, and nearly a quarter of respondents said they gamble “occasionally.”
Legalized sports betting (introduced in 2022) has been a major driver of this growth. Sports wagers now account for 20% of all reported wagers. While lottery tickets and casino games remain common, the accessibility of online sportsbooks has expanded both the volume and intensity of gambling activity statewide.
At-risk gambling behaviors rising
The survey found that moderate and high-risk gambling levels (combined) have nearly tripled. In 2017, only 4% of Kansans were considered “high-risk” gamblers. In 2025, that number has soared to 20%, a 5X jump in less than a decade. Almost all (94.4%) respondents in the “high” problem gambling risk category acknowledged they had a problem with gambling.
Among those in the high-risk group, 63% reported depression linked to gambling, 53.5% reported their gambling caused serious or repeated problems in their relationship with family members or friends (up from 36.1% in 2017), over 50% sought financial assistance, and there was a 50X higher rate of suicide attempts compared to low-risk gamblers.
83% of sportsbook account holders are men, and over one-third are aged 26 to 39. This mirrors national trends showing that men in this demographic are the most active and most at risk for gambling-related harm.
These numbers illustrate that problem gambling appears to be turning into a mental health and public health emergency. Lisa Chaney, a researcher on the 2025 survey, summarized the findings, communicating a decline in relationships and health due to gambling being woven into everyday life.
Why Kansas is especially vulnerable
Kansas lawmakers have expressed alarm at the rate of increase in problem gambling since sports betting became legal. During a September legislative meeting, Rep. Francis Awerkamp (R–St. Marys) described the state’s gambling expansion as “pouring gasoline on a fire,” urging a reexamination of sportsbook advertising and contracts.
While state-regulated sportsbooks have argued betting generates needed tax revenue, the fiscal impact has been underwhelming. For example, after one Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl run, Kansas users wagered $194 million in a single month, yet the state collected just over $1,100 in revenue.
Meanwhile, digital lottery and casino offerings have made gambling nearly frictionless. With smartphone access and constant promotions, more Kansans are engaging in impulsive or compulsive betting behaviors, often without realizing the risks.
How Kansas compares to other states
Kansas is not alone. Data from states that legalized sports betting earlier reveal similar spikes in problem gambling indicators.
New Jersey has seen a 277% increase in helpline outreach since 2018.
Ohio experienced a 67% rise in gambling addiction-related searches following sportsbook launches.
Massachusetts saw a 47% increase in online searches for gambling help after sports betting began.
New York reported a 26% rise in problem gambling helpline calls in the first year of legalization.
Nationwide, help-seeking behavior for gambling addiction has grown 23% since the 2018 Supreme Court decision allowing states to legalize sports betting.
Kansas’s sharp escalation stands out because the portion of its population categorized as high-risk gamblers is five times higher than it was in 2017, making it one of the steepest increases recorded since widespread legalization began.
One encouraging sign: more than 30% of respondents knew about local help options, compared to just 21% in 2017. Still, most people struggling with problem gambling remain untreated, as nearly 94% of high-risk gamblers recognize their problem, yet much fewer engage with professional care.
Gambling Addiction treatment in Kansas
Around 30% of respondents recognizing support options still leaves room for plenty of growth, and creating awareness remains at the top of the to-do list.
Birches Health provides specialized, insurance-covered care and services throughout Kansas, from Wichita to Topeka and everywhere in between. Birches offers the #1 gambling-specialized addiction treatment program with certified counselors available to help residents on their recovery journey from gambling addiction.
If you or someone you know in Kansas or any other state may be struggling with gambling, sports betting or related financial distress, professional help is available.
Take the first step toward recovery with Birches Health today:
