NPR Blasts Legal Sports Betting, Claims Help for Problem Gamblers Limited
National Public Radio, or NPR, stated in a Saturday report that assistance for individuals who develop a gambling addiction related to sports is scarce.
In an article released on Saturday, Katia Riddle, an NPR reporter focused on mental health issues for the public broadcasting entity based in Washington, DC, stated that “March Madness is a time for wagering, yet assistance for gambling problems is difficult to locate.”
Is that really true? Every state that allows sports betting mandates that sportsbook operators incorporate responsible gaming messages and advertise support resources.
Riddle and several mental health professionals argue that it is inadequate. They think that federal funding is necessary to effectively support problematic sports bettors.
"National advocates warn treatment is underfunded, especially compared to the billions of dollars of investment that the federal government puts into resources for addiction to alcohol, tobacco, and other substances,” wrote Riddle.
Cait Huble, a representative for the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), concurs.
“There’s no federal funding for gambling addiction. It is several decades behind it in terms of public opinion and recognition of it as a mental health condition,” Huble said.
NPR Analysis
NPR is encountering substantial backlash from Republicans after NPR President Katherine Maher admitted that the news outlet has committed certain coverage errors previously. Maher admitted that the network was incorrect to label the Hunter Biden laptop issue as a “non-story.”
The Congress, led by the GOP, is considering whether to reduce or eliminate government support for NPR and PBS. In a heated hearing this week with the Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, Maher stated that NPR delivers essential, impartial news to millions of citizens in the U.S.
“I do not believe we are politically biased,” Maher stated. “We are a non-biased organization.”
Many Republicans feel that isn’t true.
As for gaming, NPR’s Saturday report seemingly targets the industry for being “a business model based on addiction.”
“There’s no revenue without the addicted gambler,” declared Les Bernal of the advocacy group, Stop Predatory Gambling.
Sector Defense
The American Gaming Association states that the regulated commercial and tribal gaming sectors provide approximately $130 million annually for “services, prevention, and treatments related to problem gambling.” Approximately $100 million from casino gaming taxes is designated each year for services related to problem gambling.
The AGA is also still advancing its responsible sports betting initiative, “Have A Game Plan.” Initiated in 2019, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s repeal of the federal prohibition on sports betting, the program "brings together leagues, teams, media, sportsbooks, and other key industry participants to make sports betting knowledge accessible for fans."
The campaign for public service urges gamblers to establish a budget, maintain a social and enjoyable atmosphere, comprehend the odds, and exclusively wager with licensed sportsbooks.
According to the AGA, individuals who struggle to adhere to their strategy can begin seeking assistance by contacting the National Problem Gambling Helpline. The 1-800-GAMBLER helpline automatically connects a caller to their local resource agency where counselors are accessible around the clock, every day of the year.
