New York’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports is pointing to a sharp rise in visits to its gambling-help webpage. WAMC reported that the page had about 38,000 visitors in 2022 and about 190,000 visits so far this year by the morning of Aug. 21.
The PSA campaign was launched to help New Yorkers understand the risks of mobile sports betting and to direct them to help for themselves or a loved one. OASAS says it asks people to look at how much time and money they are spending gambling, how it affects their relationships and whether they have lost control. The campaign also includes a survey that gives feedback and points users toward support, and both the PSA and survey are available in English and Spanish.
Help routes extend beyond the survey. The agency has partnered with GamFin to provide free financial counselling for people facing gambling-related money trouble. It also oversees inpatient and outpatient treatment, works with providers on training and education, and says regional Problem Gambling Resource Centers operate in every part of the state. HOPEline, a toll-free, 24-hour service, is also part of the network.
The message includes people in recovery. WAMC reported that OASAS is using personal stories from people who have lived through gambling addiction, and Associate Commissioner Jerry Gretzinger said seeing someone who found a way to turn things around can be inspirational. He also said the agency is not telling people gambling is bad, but asking them to slow down and stay aware of what they are doing.
The campaign comes as New York’s mobile betting market continues to generate significant activity. The state gaming commission’s annual report says legal mobile sports wagering began on Jan. 8, 2022, and that New Yorkers wagered $22.6 billion on mobile platforms in 2024, across more than 1.7 billion transactions. The report also says $6 million a year from mobile sports wagering tax revenue is already dedicated to gambling-harms education and treatment, with another $6 million a year due to begin in 2026.
