Credit: (Courtesy of Felicia Grondin)

As men’s and women’s collegiate basketball tournaments continue to take center stage this month, so too does Americans’ love of gambling. American adults will legally wager $2.72 billion on the 2024 men’s and women’s tournaments, according to recent estimates from the American Gaming Association. 

But some people in New Jersey and across the U.S. continue to wrestle with gambling that can lead to financial ruin, strained relationships and thoughts of suicide. Across the country, 2.5 million adults are estimated to meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem in any given year, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling.  

Additionally, gamblers were significantly more likely than non-gamblers to report morbid thinking, such as wishing they were dead, along with suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-injury, according to a 2023 report from the Rutgers Center for Gambling Studies. About 28% of high-risk problem gamblers reported suicidal ideation, 20% said they had made an attempt and 26% reported engaging in non-suicidal self-injury, which can include cutting or burning oneself without intending to die by suicide.  

Now, state officials and advocates are taking steps to further address the issue. New Jersey  Attorney General Matthew Platkin recently announced the start of a nearly year-long public awareness campaign aimed at preventing problem gambling and providing resources and support for responsible gambling. The campaign looks to highlight messaging about responsible gambling, which refers to a set of policies and practices that aim to promote “gambling experiences” while minimizing the risk of harm to people and society, according to the state attorney general’s office. These resources will also aim to help people identify when gambling activities become compulsive despite an increasing toll on finances, health, employment and personal and familial relationships.  

Strategic campaign

Most of the campaign will be geared toward online ads and will continue through Super Bowl LIX in 2025. Media placements will also be “strategically timed” around major sporting events and offer reminders about betting responsibly, particularly when placing a bet during a game. The campaign will also have a “special focus” on the populations found in the Rutgers University report to be most at risk of developing a disorder — young men and gamblers who identify as Black or Hispanic, according to the attorney general’s office.  

The push at the state level mirrors attempts being made in Congress. In January, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR) introduced the Gambling Addiction, Recovery, Investment, and Treatment Act, which aims to create the “first-ever federal funding stream” dedicated to helping prevent, treat and study gambling addiction across the country. If signed into law, the legislation would set aside 50% of revenue from the federal sports excise tax for gambling-addiction treatment and research. Three-quarters of the money would be distributed to states through the existing Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant program, according to Blumenthal’s office.  

Meanwhile, state legislation aimed at creating a gambling treatment diversion court pilot program with the criminal justice system was introduced in the Senate in January, but has not been voted on yet.  

Q&A 

NJ Spotlight News spoke with Felicia Grondin, the executive director of the state Council on Compulsive Gambling, about excessive gambling and what can be done to help. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. 

NJ Spotlight News: What role does advertising for sports gambling, both online and in person, play and how does its presence impact people who are already prone to problem gambling?  

Felicia Grondin: You can’t turn on the television, the radio or go online and not see or hear a gambling advertisement. And the ads portray a very glamorous image of gambling. They entice people to play by offering free bets and you’re not entitled to many of those free bets until a certain monetary threshold is deposited into the account. So you may be required to gamble $5,000 before you see your $1,000 of free play. Not every platform is like that, but it’s dicey. And they convey, to some degree, a “you can’t lose” message. They might not say “risk-free” but it’s like, “Hey, enjoy yourself. You’ll love it. You’ll be a winner.”  

This combination of the glamorous image and a “you can’t lose” message strongly influences people to gamble. And it also can result in a relapse for those who are in recovery. So the advertising is an area of very, very great concern to the council because it’s everywhere. It’s excessive, there aren’t any restrictions on content or the frequency that ads are aired. There’s nothing right now. And something needs to be done to come up with some advertising parameters and restrictions going forward.   

NJSN: How is gambling different from other addictions? 

FG: It’s a hidden addiction because you can’t see it on someone. You can’t smell it on someone like you can with a drug or alcohol. And many individuals don’t recognize that gambling can become an addiction and they don’t take necessary precautions — like gambling responsibly — to prevent a gambling problem from occurring. Most often, the individual won’t even admit that they have a gambling problem since they might be ashamed to admit it. And they don’t realize they have a problem until it’s too late.  

A lot of it has to do with stigma. There’s a very strong stigma associated with problem gambling. As I mentioned, people are embarrassed and I think that the stigma for problem gambling is more pronounced than other addictions. I think alcohol, substance abuse — I don’t want to say that it’s more acceptable, but it’s not as stigmatized as the problem gambler. And maybe it’s because it’s still hidden. It’s not out there. People are ashamed to admit that they have the problem because they feel like very few people have that problem because they’re not aware of other people that have it.  

We’ve seen less progress in reducing the stigma compared to substance addictions. Given that you can gamble via your smartphones, it’s much easier to develop a problem. And for those in recovery, they’re constantly enticed to play since their phones are always with them. It’s like an alcoholic carrying a bottle of liquor in their pocket and trying to stay sober. For an individual with a gambling problem, especially online and sportsbook, it’s very enticing.  

NJSN: What are some of the signs that a person is gambling too much?  

FG: They may have a preoccupation with gambling. They may be borrowing money or selling personal items. They may be using gambling language very frequently. There may be unexplained absences from work or school. They may be neglecting their daily chores. If they’re students, if they’re young, their grades may be declining. They may alienate themselves from family and friends. They may have an inability to cut back or stop gambling. They might have large amounts of money on hand and they might show it off or they may be making large purchases and their families wondering where they’re getting this money from. Or they may be bragging about their winnings.  

Now, a lot of gamblers have a co-addiction. They may have an addiction to alcohol or substance abuse. The problem gambler may be suspected of having a drug or an alcohol problem and then they also may have suicidal thoughts.  

NJSN: What can people do to help? 

It’s really behavioral changes and observing your loved one’s behavior. And usually if you’re sensing something is going on, it probably is. But the best thing I think people can do to address their loved ones’ gambling problem is to have a conversation with their loved one. Be calm. Be sitting down. Be relaxed. And use “I” statements — you know, “I’ve noticed that you’ve been this way,” “I’ve noticed that this has been happening.” You never want to corner somebody and say, “What are you doing?” You really need to use “I” statements and don’t be offensive in your delivery.  

If you or someone you know is struggling with excessive gambling, call or text the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey’s free, confidential helpline, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-426-2537 (800-GAMBLER).  800-Gambler https://800gambler.org/help-for-gamblers/