Ohioans are avid sports fans, whether at the college or professional level, including teams such as the Cavaliers and Guardians. The legalization of sports betting in Ohio has proven to be a lucrative opportunity for betting and gaming companies, with Ohioans placing over $7 billion in bets since its inception. However, this newfound freedom has also brought about some consequences.
The Ohio Casino Control Commission has issued over $1 million in fines to gaming companies for violations related to advertising and promotions. On the other hand, a recent survey conducted from 2017 to 2022 showed that the number of Ohioans struggling with gambling addiction has tripled. This trend is a cause for concern and continues to be discussed further.
On Tuesday’s “Sound of Ideas” discussion, we will delve deeper into these statistics and explore how legalized sports gambling has affected the region, particularly those struggling with addiction. Our guests for this discussion include Michael Buzzelli, Associate Director of the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio; Nabil Pervaiz, Manager of Prevention Services at Recovery Resources in Cleveland; Ed G., a Compulsive Gambler in Recovery with Area 10 Gamblers Anonymous organization; Joe Messner, Licensed Clinician at Ana Zao Community Partners in Wooster; and Joe Scalzo, Reporter at Crain’s Cleveland. We hope you will join us for this insightful conversation on the impact of sports gambling on our community.
