Norman, Oklahoma (March 3, 2023) – 1 in 16 adult Oklahomans, or 6.2%, are suffering from gambling disorder, according to a new prevalence study conducted by the Oklahoma Association on Problem Gambling and Gaming (OAPGG).
The study was conducted between April and August of 2022 by Elite Research for OAPGG, with 4,050 adults over 18 surveyed. Overall, the survey shows that 60% of Oklahomans have gambled in the past year, and 30% of Oklahomans are at-risk for developing a gambling problem. The most popular gambling activities in Oklahoma are scratch tickets, lotteries, and slot machines. Slot machines are ubiquitous in Oklahoma. According to the American Gaming Association, Oklahoma ranks second in the nation for number of slot machines.
The gambling industry provides a large amount of income for the state government. In 2022, casinos paid $191.5 million to the state in gambling fees, according to a report from the Oklahoma Office of Management Enterprise Services. While gambling in Oklahoma has its economic benefits, funding for problem gambling lags. According to 2021 survey of publicly funded problem gambling services in the United States, Oklahoma ranked 24th for per capita spending on problem gambling. Of the $191.5 million in gambling fees received by the state, $1 million went to problem gambling–specific services. In other words, for every dollar collected by the state, problem gambling services received half of one cent.
The results of the prevalence study raise concerns as state legislators begin debating the legalization of sports betting, particularly because problem gambling among sports bettors is higher than for gamblers in general. The online component of sports betting can further increase the risk for a gambling disorder, as one study has shown that the rate for problem gambling among online sports bettors was as high as 16%.
“In order to protect Oklahomans, legislators and operators need to ensure that an expansion of sports gambling includes dedicated funds to prevent and treat gambling addiction,” said Dr. Wiley Harwell, executive director of OAPGG. He added that other important policy measures should include required participation of all gambling operators in the statewide self-exclusion program, establishing a consistent minimum age of 21, and the inclusion of the problem gambling helpline number in all advertising.
Those with a gambling disorder experience the same neurological signs of addiction as those with a substance use disorder, and gambling disorder shares a number of signs with substance use disorder, such as preoccupation (having persistent thoughts about engaging in the activity), tolerance (needing a higher amount of the stimulus to achieve the same result), and withdrawal (experiencing restlessness or irritability when cutting down). In fact, gambling disorder is the only behavioral addition to be included in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DMS-5)—the standard diagnostic resource for mental health practitioners.
The results of the study were presented the 16th Annual Statewide Conference on Problem Gambling by Dr. Devin Mills, Assistant Professor of Community, Family, and Addiction Sciences Professor at Texas Tech University, and Dr. Wiley Harwell, Executive Director of OAPGG. Each March, OAPGG hosts its statewide conference on problem gambling as part of Problem Gambling Awareness Month, an event sponsored by the National Council on Problem Gambling. Problem Gambling Awareness Month is designed to coincide each year with March Madness, during which Americans are expected to wager over $3 billion.
“Across Oklahoma, during Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and throughout the year, OAPGG is committed to raising public awareness about what problem gambling is, and most importantly, the resources that are available to get help,” said Dr. Harwell.
The Oklahoma Association on Problem Gambling and Gaming (OAPGG) is the Oklahoma affiliate of the National Council on Problem Gambling. OAPGG is a gambling-neutral organization; it takes no stance for or against legalized gambling. OAPGG works to increase awareness around problem gambling and gaming, offer training for treatment providers and casino employees, and develop information and materials to be used on a national scale.
For more information about problem gambling and how to increase awareness of problem gambling, go to www.oapgg.org.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.1800gamblerchat.org. Help is available 24/7/365 and is free and confidential.