Illinois Council on Problem Gambling Administrator Bill Johnson said, “We have not seen an uptick at this point, but we expect to see an uptick in the coming year. I know we haven’t done a needs assessment since 1990. That’s 30 years ago. And there have been so many changes in the gambling opportunities and the gambling types.”
Johnson noted about 2 percent of people who gamble or are exposed to gambling end up becoming addicted. He said exposures are skyrocketing lately but he anticipates the study will help lower that percentage.
IDHS Secretary Grace Hou noted, “Understanding the pervasiveness of gambling disorder will allow us to target communities that may be disproportionality impacted by the expansion of gambling in the state.”
Sports betting in Illinois surpassed $300 million in September, according to state figures.
