With mobile sports betting now online, thousands of people in Louisiana will be wagering for the first time. Robert Henson, Program Manager at the Office of Behavioral Health, treats addictive gambling disorder for the Louisiana Department of Health. He advises that bettors take a few precautions before placing their bets.
“We just ask that people know their limits, know what they’re getting into, and to be mindful of the amount of money they’re spending, and also the amount of time they’re spending doing it,” he said.
Henson says that approximately one percent of the US population has some type of gambling disorder, with another two to three percent showing at least some of the markers for addiction. He says we should be aware of the warning signs.
“Spending more than you plan to spend, doing it more frequently, isolating from others,” said Henson. “And the secretive nature. I’ve always said if it has to be a secret, are you leaving part of the truth out?”
The ease of access to gaming through our ever-present mobile devices is of particular concern to Henson, as those who might never have wagered before have a much easier path to do so.
“We’re going to have a casino in our cell phone, basically,” he said. “We’re just concerned that being it’s more readily available, people may be drawn to it who may not ordinarily be drawn to a casino per se.”
For help with compulsive gambling, call 877-770-7867 or visit LDH.LA.GOV
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