A university study has revealed 10% of young men in the United States display behavior indicating a gambling problem, compared to just 3% of the general population.
Authored by Dan Cassino, a professor of government and politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, the survey polled 801 participants nationwide.
Cassino highlighted the perils of betting online compared to other forms when he noted, “Gambling is generally marketed as entertainment, and for most gamblers, it’s just that. But there’s always some chance of gambling turning into problem behaviors, and online gambling is proving to be much more dangerous than other kinds.”
The risks were particularly connected to online sportsbooks and slots.
The survey engaged participants to answer the Problem Gambling Severity Index, a nine-question probe to elicit indicators of problem behaviors. This could be borrowing money to gamble, or responses confirming that gambling has caused financial or emotional distress.
Among the crucial findings, 24% of men reported at least one problem behavior, rising to 45% for men aged 30 or under.
A score of 8 or above on the index points to a gambling problem, with just 3% of men overall hitting that benchmark, but it was 10% for young men aged 18 to 30 and just slightly lower for women of the same age range, at 7%.
The research indicates the need to address problem gambling across the board, particularly for young people who may be forming habits, and lacking in financial security.
Customer protection could be improved everywhere
Against this backdrop, the National Council on Problem Gambling examined the betting landscape across every US state, assessing their laws and practices. It found customer protection against problem activity has a wide variance with no standard protocol, and could be improved everywhere across the nation.
The Council measured how states align with guidelines for the most effective player protections for responsible online gambling standards, as advised by the body. It found Connecticut, New Jersey, and Virginia were most aligned, meeting 49 of the 82 recommendations.
Ten states and Washington D.C. met 40 or more recommendations, including Colorado,, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
Nine states were in the median range, while 11 states met between 10 and 24 of the standard guidelines. These were Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Nevada, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Keith Whyte, the executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling said,
“This report reflects the patchwork nature of existing regulations and the significant gaps in consumer protections.”
“We urge legislators and regulators to take immediate steps to close these gaps and work to mitigate gambling-related harm.”
Image credit: Via Ideogram
