NJ's thriving gambling industry raises addiction concerns over alcoholism.

Jafar224

Since the legalization of sports gambling in New Jersey, more and more people are seeking help from organizations like the Council on Compulsive Gambling or other relevant institutions. With the booming gambling industry, groups that help with gambling addiction point out that gambling addiction could eventually become a more serious problem than alcoholism.

Among the former gamblers interviewed, Joe (a pseudonym) had been addicted to gambling for over a decade, reaching a point where he would bet on the accuracy of pizza dough while working as a delivery driver, losing his daily wages. Another former gambler, Jakubik, squandered over $6 million in wealth in just a couple of years. These former gamblers say the scary part about gambling is that they might start off playing with spare money. As a result, they even turned their savings into gambling capital and then started borrowing money to gamble; eventually, everything, including money, houses, cars, and even dignity, vanished, leading to a low-profile life.

There are many channels for help with gambling addiction, such as hotlines provided by the Council on Compulsive Gambling or the Ani Wessel Association in New Jersey. However, strictly speaking, these former gamblers are not experienced individuals; Jakubik says, in fact, none of them have been cured; another former gambler, Frank, also says that gambling is deeply rooted in his visceral being. Because gambling addiction is basically incurable, these former gamblers even gather in a church on Staten Island, trying to stay away from the noise full of bets and odds.

Therefore, in the eyes of these former gamblers, since the legalization of sports gambling in New Jersey in 2018, the ease of betting via mobile phones and glamorous advertisements has them worried that more and more people will follow in their footsteps; withdrawal from gambling hotlines receives more predictions from the Ani Wessel Association, forecasting that gambling addiction will become a problem even more serious than gambling itself. However, the state government is unlikely to backtrack almost at all. After all, following legalization, the sports betting industry contributed $12.6 million to New Jersey's treasury last year.

Isha000

It's really hard to quit gambling.

Samiksha

I think generally gambling addiction is bigger than alcohol addiction.

Jiger955

In some places, people's gambling addiction is indeed quite severe.