Is your wallet lighter this morning?
Online sports gambling became legal in Massachusetts on Friday morning. There are currently six competing online betting systems – BetMGM, Barstool Sportsbook, Caesars Sportsbook, Draftkings, FanDuel, and WynnBet – all of which offer some form of early promotion to attract the best of the best. their platform.
Massachusetts became the 37th state to legalize online sports betting since 2018, when the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, or PASPA, which kept sports betting illegal except in Nevada and a small number of other states.
But with the new accessibility comes the pitfalls that these other states are struggling with, namely, that sports gambling can become an addiction for some people – especially with the current ability of your palm through any connected smartphone. We reached out to Fairwinds – Nantucket’s Counseling Center, to ask what users should watch out for, and what resources are available.
“I think the important thing is that people don’t realize that gambling can be as addictive as drugs and alcohol,” said Amanda Wright, the clinical director of Fairwinds. “There is information about gambling but online sports gambling is a new concept and a person does not feel it can become a habit that leads to a person who is out of control and at risk of addiction.”
Wright said that in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association, gambling is classified as an impulse-control disorder that harms one’s psychological and physical health. The legalization of online sports gambling may prompt Fairwinds to reconsider its earlier screening of patients to check for gambling-related problems.
“Often people who gamble regularly abuse alcohol, tobacco, and drugs and may also have other mental health disorders,” Wright said. “I think we need to do a better job of screening for this as we do for alcohol/drug abuse and suicidal ideation. We need to ask direct questions of the client when we drink and go on like ‘do you gamble? How often do you do it every day? Does it affect your life?’ It is important for people to be aware of the signs of gambling which can include excessive gambling, anxiety, lying, and lifestyle changes. The dangers of gambling are not often discussed so many do not know what to expect.”
According to the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, some of the
most common warning signs for someone with a gambling problem includes:
- Spending more money than intended on gambling.
- Gambling for longer than intended.
- Gambling has become a serious financial problem.
- Lying to cover gambling losses.
- Gambling is used to escape personal problems and distressing feelings.
- Thinking about gambling all the time.
- Being unable to set limits.
“I think we need to do a better job of educating about the dangers of gambling including online esports gambling and it’s more important to let people know that there is help out there and not to be ashamed about help themselves or a loved one. ,” Wright said. “Fairwinds clinics are trained to work with those with addiction. Our staff meets the client where they are and helps them move forward. All of our clinicians are trained in the Unified Protocol similar to DBT/CBT and can offer therapy. We have partner recovery coaches who can help too. There are also resources online as well as support groups that can help. Fairwinds, Nantucket’s counseling center is here to help and we encourage those to contact us by phone or text at 508-228-2689 or crisis call at 508-221-3315.
Massachusetts has also established the “Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline” which individuals can call at 1-800-327-5050 or via
visit this link to talk to a trained specialist to receive support. These specialists are available 24/7, and services are available in multiple languages and are free and confidential.
