What we can learn from Problem Gambling rates in New Jersey
Clinical Review by:
Published:
Oct 29, 2024
,
04:50 p.m.
ET
Gambling addiction is affecting millions of Americans across the country, including in New Jersey. The Garden State was arguably the biggest historical proponent of legalized online gambling, but now NJ is looking closely at its impacts. It’s fair to say that there are some very concerning statistics and signs of a serious problem brewing.
Problem Gambling stats in NJ
Young people betting at alarming rates
The statistics in New Jersey show that younger people are betting at alarming rates. The New Jersey State Legislature held a hearing to discuss the impact of betting on New Jersey, and the findings were concerning. It was discussed that instances of problem gambling were found in those as young as 7th and 8th grades, with 55% of that age group gambling in the past year. The prevalence of adolescent problem gambling is also much higher than that in adults, with 10-15% of young gamblers suffering from gambling-related problems.
Calls to gambling helpline
There has been an uptick in recent calls to the state helpline for problem gambling. It was found that 100% of recent calls received came from those who were under the age of 25 and predominantly males stating they were struggling with betting on sports. The largest cohort of callers to the hotline are those 34 and under. Overall, there has been a 277% increase in outreach to the helpline since the legalization of online sports betting in New Jersey in 2018.
Rates of Problem Gambling vs national averages
New Jersey has been found to have higher rates of gambling addiction than the national averages. The rates in men ages 18-20 in New Jersey is 10%, more than 3x the national average of around 3%. While only 1-3% of the general population meets the criteria for problem gambling, 6% of New Jersey residents could be diagnosed with severe problem gambling, according to estimates.
Sports Betting behaviors and tendencies
Over 90% of sports betting in New Jersey is done online, and 50% of online sports bets are placed in-game, or while it’s happening live. This type of bet can be more impulsive and risky due to the fast-changing odds.
Parlays are another high-risk type of bet with a very low win rate. Overall, 85% of sports bets in NJ result in losses, with over 80% being parlays that have loss rates of over 90%.
Another statistic revealed that 4% of overall sports bettors place 40% of the bets made and spend 57% of the overall total money risked. These bettors are called high-intensity bettors.
Types of Gambling Products: Sports betting vs Casino vs Lottery
There are different types of betting products available for those in New Jersey. Those include sports betting, casinos and the lottery. And nowadays, all three of these can be done in-person or online.
Data indicated that some types of gambling may be more dangerous than others. In New Jersey, 68% of online sports bettors report problematic gambling behaviors. That’s significant, especially in comparison to 50% of in-person casino players, 40% of scratch-off ticket users and 34% of lottery players.
How New Jersey gambling compares to the rest of the U.S.
Problem gambling is not limited to the borders of New Jersey. Other states across the U.S are seeing the negative consequences of online sports betting and problematic gambling behavior. While calls into New Jersey’s gambling hotline have risen exponentially since 2018, so have others as well.
Additional state data includes:
Virginia: 973% increase in the number of helpline callers between 2019 and 2023
Ohio: 227% increase from January 2022 to January 2023
Florida: 138% increase in first 2 months
Massachusetts: 121% increase from July 2022 to June 2023
Gambling Addiction treatment in New Jersey and across the U.S.
Gambling addiction is a serious concern that can have detrimental consequences if it is left untreated. But there are now specialized resources available for those who are struggling with problem gambling. Treatment options can include inpatient treatment, individual, group or family therapy, self-help groups and outpatient services such as virtual treatment.
Birches Health offers remote specialized treatment for gambling addiction. Therapy can take place through chat, video or phone and enables someone to get help from the comfort of their own home.
Here are some ways to get started with Birches Health today:
You can also contact Birches Health directly by calling 833-483-3838 or emailing hello@bircheshealth.com.
