“People Come To Us In Their Darkest Hours”: Arizona Official Warns As Betting Problems Surge Nationwide

6 min read
May 5, 2025, 10:00 AM

As sports betting becomes more prevalent, industry regulators continue to grapple with how to combat the surge in problem gambling.

According to the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG), approximately 2.5 million U.S. adults meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem each year, while another 5-8 million experience mild to moderate gambling addictions.

“We know it’s an issue,” ADG Division of Problem Gambling Director (DPG) Elise Mikkelsen told RG. “Studies have been done nationwide that put it around 2-4% who are affected by gambling in a negative way. I’d say it’s probably bigger than that.”

What’s more is the problem does not appear to be going away.

Arizona’s DPG funded gambling addiction treatment for 992 individuals in fiscal year 2024, up from 948 in 2023 and 816 in 2022.

Problem Gambling Services Vary

Among the issues, Mikkelsen said, is the lack of federal funding for problem gambling. While states tend to allocate a portion of their gambling revenue to addiction services, it is often insufficient to fully address the issue at hand.

Nevertheless, Arizona’s DPG has designed several initiatives to try to mitigate concerns. These include a free anonymous helpline (1-800-NEXT-STEP), traditional counseling services, and self-exclusion programs where individuals can voluntarily ban themselves from tribal casinos and online betting apps for up to 10 years.

The department also hopes to launch peer support services sometime this summer.

“Peer support is different in that it’s not counseling, but it fills in those gaps,” Mikkelsen said. “Taking a person to a GA meeting, meeting a person for coffee to see how they’re doing. (It’s) more intimate, more tailored and you’re also dealing with a peer, someone who has been through this.

“People come to us in their darkest hours when they’re on their knees. A peer support person can literally be that bright light for them.”

Mikkelsen fears the increased accessibility of sports betting is only exacerbating addiction issues. With online wagering now available in 38 states plus Washington, D.C., placing a bet is easier than ever before.

Last year alone, Arizona took in $7.96 billion in legal sports wagers, representing a 21.1% year-over-year increase from $6.57 billion.

This continued into 2025, with Arizona’s monthly handle for January reaching $864.2 million. Notably, that was the sixth-highest total in the United States behind New York ($2.48 billion), Illinois ($1.47 billion), New Jersey ($1.15 billion), Ohio ($1.01 billion) and Pennsylvania ($873.1 million).

“So many more people have accessibility,” Mikkelsen said, adding that she’s particularly concerned about its impact on youth. “We have seen data that kids are gambling in unconventional ways that we don’t think of. … If they have that exposure at a young age, they have a greater risk of it becoming a problem in their adulthood.”

Divvying Up the Resources a Challenge

Each year, the Arizona DPG gets 2% of revenue from gaming and $300,000 from the state lottery. A portion of that money is redirected to help fund addiction treatment services.

It is hardly ever enough.

“One of our challenges is balancing the money allocated versus the people we have to get things done,” said Mikkelsen, who’s one of five people on staff.

“These programs take time and a lot of thought. It’s definitely a delicate balance.”

While the department has a marketing budget to promote its services, it pales in comparison to what sports wagering licensees are able to spend.

Nevertheless, getting the word out is vital. Mikkelsen noted that calls to Arizona’s DPG helpline continue to increase. FY 2024 saw 687 calls made, up from 185 in FY 2021.

“They’re mandated to advertise our (helpline) number,” Mikkelsen said. “The national advertising, or local advertising, has certainly got our message out in ways we never could’ve dreamed of.

“We are seeing incremental numbers in treatment, but we’d gone so low during the (COVID-19) pandemic.”

In the meantime, campaigning for federal funding continues.

Doug Bonjour
Doug Bonjour
Betting Writer

Doug is a seasoned sports writer/editor with bylines for the New York Times, Associated Press and CBS Sports. He also has extensive experience in the betting industry, including work for Point Spreads. Prior to that, he covered UConn women's basketball and football for Hearst Connecticut Media.

Interests:
NFL
NBA
UFC
MLB

More Gambling Industry News

Gambling Industry News
06/15/2025
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Maryland April Bets Reach $514M, Taxes Top $6.4M
Maryland’s online and retail sportsbooks accepted $513.72 million in wagers during April 2025, the highest April total since the state’s full online launch in 2022.
Maryland April Bets Reach $514M, Taxes Top $6.4M
Gambling Industry News
06/14/2025
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Michigan Sets April Sports Betting Handle Record of $426.99 m
Michigan bettors wagered $426.99 million in April 2025, edging past last year’s figure and marking the state’s highest April handle since the online market opened in 2021.
Michigan Sets April Sports Betting Handle Record of $426.99 m
Gambling Industry News
06/13/2025
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Kansas Sports Betting Handle Nears $1B, Taxes Up 75% Despite Lower Hold
Four months into 2025, Kansas sportsbooks have written $975 million in tickets, a 9.9% bump on last year’s early returns.
Kansas Sports Betting Handle Nears $1B, Taxes Up 75% Despite Lower Hold
Gambling Industry News
06/12/2025
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Sol Fayerman-Hansen
Oregon Sportsbooks Handle Up 8% Year-Over-Year in April
The Oregon Lottery has released the state's sports betting revenue report for the month of April. A 1.6-percentage-point lift in hold to 11.5% pushed tax receipts to roughly $0.64 million.
Oregon Sportsbooks Handle Up 8% Year-Over-Year in April

Our Authors

Paruyr Shahbazyan

Paruyr Shahbazyan started his business career as an entrepreneur in 2000. Over 13 years, he learned business and leadership, which laid the foundation for his career.

In 2013, Paruyr entered the sports and betting industry as the founder and president of Bookmaker Rating, an online media platform he led until 2020. The platform focuses on in-depth analysis and insights in sports betting and has gained a reputation for quality content.

In 2022, Paruyr co-founded Azuro, a decentralized betting protocol. This shows his commitment to technology in the sports betting space. Through all these experiences, Paruyr has been shaping and influencing the betting industry, setting new trends and standards.

Innovation in sportsbetting comes from a deep understanding of both technology and the human element of sports.

Strategic Vision

Paruyr's vision is to revolutionize the sports entertainment industry by integrating technology. He sees the future of sports entertainment as a blend of traditional sports knowledge with innovative tech solutions, like decentralized protocols, to enhance user experience and fairness. He aims to create platforms that are not only user-friendly but also uphold the highest standards of ethical reporting, contributing to a more responsible and enjoyable sports culture.

Meet All Our Experts
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read our
Privacy Policy
.