Illinois’ 1-800-GAMBLER helpline received more than twice the number of calls in 2023 compared to the previous year, indicating a potential increase in problem gambling.

With Illinois’ gambling industry continually expanding and evolving—thanks to the surge in sports betting, frequent openings of new casinos, and the widespread presence of slot machines—the current rise in the number of problem gamblers is perhaps unsurprising.

According to recent data, gamblers and their families in the Prairie State are reaching out to the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network at alarmingly high rates.

Close to 16,000 Helpline Contacts in 2024 and Rising By mid-2024, Illinois residents had initiated 15,998 phone calls, chats, and text messages to the national 1-800-GAMBLER helpline. The state is on track to contact the helpline 23% more frequently this year than last.

This number is second only to California, where residents used the helpline 29,674 times by 1st July 2024.

Texas ranks just behind Illinois, with 15,699 helpline contacts.

In 2023, Illinois residents made 25,287 phone calls, chats, and text messages to the national 1-800-GAMBLER helpline.

This figure is more than double the 12,342 calls and texts recorded in 2022.

David Wohl, executive director of the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling, reminisced about the days when “watching a football game” did not involve betting discussions, which have now become a common feature in announcers’ commentaries.

“The more people are exposed to it, then you could draw the conclusion that more people may start to develop gambling problems,” he noted, adding that gambling has become an omnipresent activity today.

“That just blows my mind,” he said.

The “Are You Really Winning?” Campaign Executive director Wohl also attributed the rise in calls to the national helpline to the “Are You Really Winning” advertising campaign launched by the Illinois Department of Human Services two years ago.

The campaign urged gamblers to be mindful of signs of problem gambling, such as borrowing money to pay off gambling-related debts or being dishonest about the amounts they wager, prompting many to seek help.

However, despite the campaign’s efforts to address problem gambling as a mental and public health issue, state residents gambled $1.5 billion at casinos in 2023 alone, marking a $173 million increase from 2022.

They also wagered $960 million on online sports betting, up from approximately $760 million the previous year.

In terms of losses, data from the Illinois Gaming Board and the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling revealed that residents spent $2.9 billion on slot machines at video gaming parlours and bars, an increase of around $200 million compared to 2022.

This inevitably means bigger profits for operators.

Simplified Betting: A Contributing Factor Wohl also highlighted the ease with which today’s bettors can place wagers on their favourite games and sports.

Often, they simply pick up their phone and wager large sums “without breaking a sweat.”

While the majority of people know how to set limits and when to stop gambling once those limits are reached, a small percentage of players are unable to stop, even when they know they should.

This puts them at risk of developing a gambling disorder in the future.

Last month, State Representative Edgar Gonzalez Jr. expressed his desire for iGaming to reach state residents by 2025, stating that the momentum was in their favour for the upcoming legislative session.