The state’s problem gambling helpline saw a big jump in calls in the months after Massachusetts launched legal sports betting last year, but a public health official said Wednesday that most of that increase was due to calls from bettors mistakenly thinking they could get technical help with their betting apps.
The Department of Public Health said the (800) 327-5050 helpline received 3,050 calls in fiscal year 2023, which included the first five months of legal betting. That’s an increase of 1,672 calls or 121% over the 1,378 calls received in fiscal 2022.
Victor Ortiz, director of DPH’s Office of Problem Gambling Services, told the Public Health Council on Wednesday morning that one-third of the calls the helpline got were
Betting app calls driving MA problem gambling helpline volume increase
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