Rather than traveling to a casino during certain hours of the day, bettors can place bets at any time they want from wherever they are in the state.įong said mobile apps also lack human connection, like interacting with casino staff and other gamblers. The most significant danger of online sports betting is the accessibility, because the mobile apps are open 24-hours a day. However, supporters of the law contend Kansas is spending more than ever on treatment for gambling addiction. “If we’re bringing in a couple million bucks,” Waggoner said, “at the very least, make sure it is going to help take care of some of the problems that have been caused by this.” And the state should also study how the massive new industry affects the population. Waggoner said the state should provide more support to combat gambling addiction. Paul Waggoner and other lawmakers who opposed the plan to legalize sports gambling fear the social cost. People like Fong believe Kansas is not doing enough to combat the dangers of gambling addiction through proactive advertising campaigns or free counseling treatment. “The access, availability, anonymity,” Fong said, “and the fact that you can do this all the time and constantly get new opportunities makes it potentially addictive.” Timothy Fong, a psychiatrist and co-director for the UCLA Sports Gambling Studies Program, said legal sports betting apps take away the human connection required to place a wager, obscuring the weight of what some bettors are putting on the line when they place high-priced bets. Without that, Kansas could be sacrificing vulnerable residents for new business. Researchers and counselors believe the state has a responsibility to provide sufficient support to fight gambling addiction if it’s going to cash in from sports wagers. The new industry makes it legal and easier to place bets on things ranging from the outcome of games to the coin toss during the Super Bowl. Online sports betting poses a heightened danger of addiction to Kansans.

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