Kentucky gambling help calls QUADRUPLED from 2022-2024
Published:
Apr 22, 2025
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01:49 p.m.
ET
Key Points
Kentucky has seen a drastic 4X increase in hotline outreach for gambling-related problems since 2022
Horse race betting was a primary form of legal gambling in Kentucky until recently when wider forms of sports betting were legalized
Many states across the U.S. have experienced significant increases in gambling addiction
Treatment for gambling addiction is available both in-person and virtually in Kentucky and across the country
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Kentucky is well-known in the world of gambling for hosting one of the most popular betting events of the year, The Kentucky Derby, on the first Saturday of every May. While horse race betting was the primary form of gambling in Kentucky for almost a century, online sports betting was legalized in 2023, at least in part resulting in quadruple the amount of calls coming into the state’s gambling support hotline between 2022 and 2024.
Creig Ewing, a former sports editor in Kentucky, stated that “Every day can be like Derby Day, if one has a mind to bet.” This rings true not only in Kentucky, but all over the U.S. as gambling addiction cases and those seeking out help continue to rise as betting products become more easily accessible and forcefully marketed at seemingly every opportunity.
Gambling addiction outreach spikes in Kentucky
Sports gambling in Kentucky has already shown to be problematic simply by looking at the increase in outreach to the state problem gambling hotlines since it was legalized in 2023.
Calls to the Kentucky problem gambling helpline more than quadrupled from 2022 to 2024, from an average of 55 per month to 270 per month, per the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling. The Council said hotline calls were already on the rise before Kentucky legalized sports gambling in the second half of 2023. Calls, texts and chats had ticked up to about 66 per month during the first eight months of the year. But they’ve exploded since then, totaling 3,240 last year.
Many individuals who reach out do not share information about the type of gambling with which they struggle, but for callers who did, the most common form by far was sports gambling.
According to data provided by the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling, 603 people cited sports gambling as their reason for calling last year. That dwarfed the next most-common reasons for calling — more traditional forms of gambling like lottery games (147) and slots (120).
RonSonlyn Clark, a certified gambling counselor who is also president of the Council, said she’s seen as many people seeking help for gambling in the past two years as she did in her first 20 years combined. “We don’t currently have enough trained (counselors) to handle the capacity,” Clark stated.
Almost 80% of adults in Kentucky have bet within the past year, with $500 million in estimated social costs related to unemployment insurance benefits, lost wages and overall productivity, criminal related charges and bankruptcy. Many expect this number to continue to rise as legalized betting and increases in online gambling participation figures grow.
Worried about your betting? Connect with Birches Health today by clicking here, calling 833-483-3838 or emailing help@bircheshealth.com
History of gambling, horse racing wagering and sports betting legalization in KY
Kentucky has a long history with various forms of gambling, dating back to the early 1800s, when private organizations could organize lotteries available to the public, but only to fund public works such as roads or schools. In 1881, Commonwealth v. Simonds helped define the first law regarding horse racing in Kentucky.
For almost a century, between 1891 and 1981, in-person horse racing was the only legally permitted event that could be bet on. In 1982, horse race betting was expanded to include intertrack, international, simulcast and interstate wagering.
A state lottery was established in 1988 with the first authorized lottery occurring in 1989. In 1992 charitable gaming was established in Kentucky and from 1994-2009, multiple bills were proposed to permit casino-style gambling, but were not approved.
Between 2010 and 2018 there were rulings for and against instant-race betting or historical horse race (HHR) betting. In 2020 the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that HHR was unconstitutional and would not be allowed. In 2021, HHR was approved and sports betting became legal in Kentucky as of 2023.
Gambling addiction treatment and resources in Kentucky
If you or a loved one is struggling with problem gambling or sports betting addiction, there are treatment options available throughout Kentucky. The type of care depends on the individual and their specific needs, but for many, individual counseling – both in-person and virtual – can be beneficial in treating gambling addiction. Birches Health provides specialized gambling addiction treatment from the comfort of one's own home, eliminating the need to travel for gambling specific services. To get started with Birches you can:
Call 833-483-3838
Email help@bircheshealth.com
How Kentucky’s numbers compare to other states
How does Kentucky stack up against other states in the U.S. regarding gambling addiction?
Florida saw a dramatic 88% rise in gambling addiction hotline calls from 2023 to 2024.
New Jersey, which has one of the most robust and established sports betting markets in the country, has seen a 277% increase in gambling hotline calls since the legalization of sports betting in the state in 2018.
Virginia: 973% increase in helpline callers from 2019 to 2023
Ohio: 227% jump in calls from January 2022 to January 2023
Massachusetts: 121% rise in gambling support service calls from mid-2022 to mid-2023
Other states have reported similar findings that capture an increase in outreach for help regarding problematic gambling since the legalization in their state. This trend across the board shows that preventative education and comprehensive treatment for gambling addiction are necessary to help mitigate this fast growing problem.
