Connecticut Lawmakers Push Bill to Fight Online Gambling Addiction

Efforts to tackle gambling addiction made progress this week when the Public Health Committee gave the green light to House Bill 7215, moving it to the Connecticut House of Representatives for more discussion.

Lawmakers Push for Gambling Addiction Program as Online Betting Soars

The bill passed in the committee with 20-10. It tries to deal with the growing concerns about online gaming disorder. This problem has become more common since the state made online sports betting and casino gaming legal in 2021.

If passed, the bill would tell the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to start a program to treat and rehabilitate people who struggle with too much online gambling, reported Connecticut-based online news outlet CT News Junkie. The lawmakers behind this plan say the problem has gotten much worse since online betting became more available for younger players.

Numbers from the state show how big this issue is. The Department of Consumer Protection reports that gamblers in Connecticut have bet almost $45 billion through online platforms since legal sports betting and casino gaming began. This industry makes a lot of money for the state. Sports betting alone has brought in over $383 million, while online casinos have added another $160 million to state funds.

Despite the money-making success of legal gambling, addiction cases have gone up. A state report from 2022 showed that more than 35% of people between 18 and 25 took part in some kind of gambling, and more of them started showing signs of problem behavior. In addition, a DMHAS study in 2024 found that almost half of all sports betting money comes from a small group of high-risk bettors, who make up less than 2% of all players.

Proposed Bill Aims to Support Problem Gamblers and Their Families

House Bill 7215 suggests a wide-ranging plan to address the problem. The bill aims to provide help and treatment choices for people with gambling addictions and to support their families. It would start prevention programs and rehab services to lessen the harm from too much betting.

Even with the bill’s goals, some officials are wary about the right steps to take. DMHAS Commissioner Nancy Navarretta wrote in her testimony that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has not accepted online gaming disorder yet.

This makes it hard to create standard treatment methods. She pointed out that while DMHAS sees the issue, making a full program now might be too soon without clear clinical guidelines.

Lawmakers have until April 2 to get committee approval for the bill before it moves ahead for more review by the legislature. If it passes, the plan could be a big step to reduce the dangers linked to the state’s fast-growing online betting industry.