CLEVELAND — With the Super Bowl kicking off Sunday in Las Vegas, the gambling industry is gearing up for a big win by the billions in bets.
Last year, Ohio joined 37 other states in legalizing sports betting. Within the first year, calls to the state's gambling help hotline have shot up 55 percent.
Ohio For Responsible Gambling reports approximately 10,637 calls were made to Ohio's helpline in 2023. By comparison, that number was 6,835 one year earlier.
Aside from the steady rise in hotline calls -- crimes stemming from gambling have also increased across the state.
"People come in with thefts, domestic violence, alcoholism, PTSD and they're committing crimes and we're like 'what is the root issue?'"
There have been 1,900 gambling addiction screenings in the last year through Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, which is the first court in Ohio to begin screening for gambling addiction. A state and court-joined effort Judge Brendan Sheehan says, to connect offenders to resources and assistance programs.
"I've had individuals come before me and say they've had this addiction and because they were able to connect, they were able to get their families back they're able to be back with their spouses," Judge Sheehan says. "They're on this road of where can they get their next meal because they were given help from our court."
The state gives money to gambling recovery programs, but Judge Sheehan says a gambling addiction needs more than the money to fix an addiction.
"Domestic violence cases, theft cases, alcohol-related cases, when we dipped into the root of the problem and they leave probation and they're done with their service, they look back and say, Thank you, because we were given an opportunity to have a second chance.'"
MORE FROM 3NEWS...
Want to be among the first to know the most important local and national news? The latest sports updates? We've got you covered! You can download the free WKYC app and get the latest updates sent to your phone: Android, Apple.