Online sports betting relaunch triggers surge in Florida's gambling hotline calls

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The relaunch of online sports betting in Florida is keeping the state’s gambling hotline busier than ever.

The volume of calls and messages to the gambling helpline has more than doubled since the relaunch of online sports betting in Florida, according to a spokesperson for the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling.

Richard Pinsky tells CBS12 News that calls to the helpline typically spike following major sporting events.

See also: Palm Beach students explore medical careers at Annual Healthcare and Science Symposium

It’s not just gamblers that are calling for assistance, but the helpline is also seeing a spike in family members calling to get help and seeking services for a loved one, Pinsky said.

"When you have an online component now that’s available at your fingertips, you no longer have the obstacles, that prior to Florida allowing the online sports betting, those obstacles are no longer in place," Pinsky said.

According to Yale Medicine, about 1 percent of Americans suffer from a gambling disorder.

With the easy access to place bets right from your phone, they fear more Floridians could call victim into this addiction, Pinsky said.

"You [used to] have to go to a brick-and-mortar location. You would have to get up out of your chair, you would have to get in the car, and drive somewhere. So there are milestones along the way to help trigger, 'I better slow down. I better not do this.'"

Pinsky believes there should be stricter rules on advertising towards young people, and he said its going to be on lawmakers in Tallahassee to set those standards.

While gambling can affect anyone, parents of older teens and young adults should pay the most attention to their kids because they are the most susceptible to falling victim to this addiction, Pinsky said.

He recommends parents ask questions and seek help by calling or texting the helpline at 888-236-4848.