Executive Summary
The Oklahoma Association on Problem Gambling and Gaming (OAPGG) calls upon all stakeholders in the debate over legalized sports gambling to recognize the harms of gambling disorder. OAPGG believes the expansion of legalized sports gambling in the state of Oklahoma will likely increase gambling participation and problems unless the following steps are taken to minimize harm. Any sports legislation should include:
Financial Support
Annual funding for treatment, prevention, education, and awareness of all issues related to sports betting
Training Requirements
Training for all employees and vendors on the signs and symptoms of gambling disorder with oversight by a third party
Accurate Advertising and Helpline Promotion
Accurate representation of the odds of winning and accurate representation of the risk involved
Display of 1-800-GAMBLER information on all teller windows and online platforms
1-800-GAMBLER promotion on all print, billboard, social media, and other advertising
Limits on Gambling
Participation in the OAPGG statewide self-exclusion program
Ability to set limits on the amount time and money wagered
No sports betting for individuals under 21 years of age
A NOTE ON GAMBLING NEUTRALITY
This white paper takes a gambling-neutral approach to the proposed solutions for gambling disorder and does not make recommendations for or against gambling. Regardless of whether there are legalized opportunities for gambling, it is possible for an individual to developing a gambling problem. Any new legislation or expansion in gambling should include protections and funding to prevent and mitigate harm.
Recommendations
1. Funding
Revenue from sports betting should support an annual allocation to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for the treatment and prevention of sports betting.
Legalizing sports betting should trigger an increase in funding for problem gambling treatment and prevention, particularly because the rate of gambling problems among sports bettors is at least twice as high as among gamblers in general (Winters & Derevensky, 2019). The National Council on Problem Gambling recommends allocating at least 1% of all gambling revenues toward initiatives that increase awareness or provide treatment and prevention for problem gambling. Funding for problem gambling is already low compared to funding for substance use disorders and prevalence rates (Marotta, & Yamagata, 2022).
Read more about gambling revenue and funding for problem gambling in Oklahoma.
2. Training
All employees and vendors should be trained on the signs and symptoms of gambling disorder with oversight by a third party.
Casino employees have the most opportunities for spotting the signs and symptoms of problem gambling, which means that casinos are the leading referral source for the helpline and treatment services. Each casino and each shift needs dedicated and trained people to speak with those who show signs of a gambling disorder.
OAPGG offers a variety of trainings to casinos, counselors, and others. In cooperation with tribal nations, OAPGG has developed training films and an intervention approach, as well as other responsible gambling trainings.
Read more about OAPGG’s tribal partners.
3. Advertising
Operators may not misrepresent the odds of winning and may not misrepresent the risk involved to a bettor’s own money.
Misrepresentations of risk in advertising can support thinking and behavior that leads to gambling disorder. In the 2022 Oklahoma problem gambling prevalence survey, individuals with maladaptive beliefs were more likely to have gambling disorder. Only 5.3% of individuals who endorsed neither maladaptive belief showed signs of gambling disorder, whereas 48.5% of individuals who endorsed both maladaptive beliefs had gambling disorder (Harwell et al., 2023).
4. Helpline Promotion
All teller windows and online platforms should have brochures and posters to promote the Oklahoma Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER). All print, billboard, social media or other advertising should promote responsible gambling by including 1-800-GAMBLER.
All public prevention and awareness efforts should offer a unified message. OAPGG works with the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association to lead Tribal Voices, a grassroots and cooperative effort to enhance responsible gambling efforts across the state of Oklahoma. The unified Smart Play OK public awareness campaign, developed by Tribal Voices, is used across the state to promote responsible gambling.
Read more about Tribal Voices.
5. Self-Exclusion
Sports betting operators should participate in the statewide self-exclusion program.
The current statewide database, managed by OAPGG, should be used by all gambling outlets to allow customers to voluntarily ban themselves.
It is recommended that self-exclusion should be for 1, 3, or 5 years, and if there is a process for lifting the exclusion then a class on problem gambling should be used as one consideration for the lifting process. The number of new self-exclusions continues to increase from year to year.
Read more about participation in self-exclusion.
6. Minimum Age
A consistent minimum age for sports gambling and related fantasy games should be established. 21 is the recommended minimum age.
Teens and young adults are neurologically predisposed to take risks, and they lack judgment in decision making. The judgment needed to evaluate gambling risk is one of the last neurological skills to develop in young adults, putting them at risk for problem gambling. Earlier experiences of gambling are correlated with higher rates of problem gambling.
Read more about limiting youth access to gambling.
7. Ability to Limit Time and Money
Players should be able to set daily, weekly, and monthly limits on the time and money that they spend gambling.
A variety of features in sports betting increase the risk of gambling problems.
- In-play betting Continuous in-play betting encourages bettors to keep placing bets without pausing to think clearly about the risk.
- Fandom A sense of connection to a favorite sports team or player can challenge clear thinking about a wager.
- Scarcity principle Bettors can believe that time is running out and they must place a bet immediately for the game ends.
- Social proofing The increase in sports betting advertising and participation can lead to the assumption that sports betting has no harms.
References
Harwell, W. H., Spare, K., & Mills, D. J. (2023). Assessing the prevalence of gambling and problem gambling in Oklahoma among a non-probabilistic sample of adults. Report created by OAPGG and the Kansas City Port Authority Problem Gambling Fund Advisory Committee.
Marotta, J. & Yamagata, G. (2022). 2021 survey of publicly funded problem gambling services in the United States. National Association of Administrators for Disordered Gambling Services.
Winters, K. C. & Derevensky, J. (2019). Comprehensive Review of Sports Wagering and Gambling Addiction. Washington, DC: National Center on Problem Gambling.