Missouri Welcomes Sports Betting: Discover the New Fund Dedicated to Combating Problem Gambling

On a Sunday morning at the Super One Stop in Granite City, Illinois, the parking lot is buzzing. Cars line up, but not all belong to shoppers. Many drivers are glued to their smartphones, likely placing bets on NFL games.

Nick Krumwiede drove 15 minutes from St. Louis to put down some bets, including one for his favorite team, the Chicago Bears. He could have visited a casino in East St. Louis but prefers the convenience of betting from his phone instead. “Everyone here is into Sunday football, I bet,” he remarked.

Smartphone apps like DraftKings and FanDuel make it easy for people to gamble without leaving their cars. While this convenience might seem harmless, experts warn it can lead to serious gambling problems. Soon, Missouri residents will be able to place bets from home, thanks to a recent ballot initiative legalizing sports betting. This could start as early as summer.

The law requires Missouri to invest at least $5 million yearly from its sports betting taxes into combating gambling addiction. This move is seen as crucial since other states have experienced increased calls to problem gambling hotlines after online betting became available.

Estimates suggest that Missouri could earn between $12.8 million and $20.5 million from sports betting. Carolyn Hawley, a professor studying gambling addiction at Virginia Commonwealth University, has observed rising issues since Virginia legalized betting. She noted the rise in patients experiencing stress-related health problems linked to gambling.

“Now we can bet from anywhere at any time, and that’s concerning,” she said. Many who gamble are young men. A recent poll indicated that 25% of men under 30 gamble online, with 10% identifying as problem gamblers. After Virginia legalized sports betting, there was a staggering 1,000% increase in calls to gambling helplines.

In Missouri, advocates argue the state has missed out on valuable tax revenue by not allowing sports betting. They believe this revenue could help fund treatment for those struggling with gambling addiction. “Being the 39th state to legalize sports betting means we can learn from others,” said Jack Cardetti from Winning for Missouri Education. “We need to ensure resources are available.”

Currently, Missouri spends very little on problem gambling—just $100,000 in 2023 and nothing the year before. The extra money from sports betting could change that, once everything is set up.

Back at the Super One Stop, owner Himang Patel sees the parking lot as a chance for business, even if the gamblers won’t be around much longer once betting is legal in Missouri. Krumwiede is eager for legalized betting but is also aware of the risks, reflecting on times when he lost significant amounts of money. He mentioned needing to establish stricter personal rules to manage his gambling.

“You can end up in a dark place quickly,” he admitted. “I guess I just have to be mindful and figure things out.”

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