U.S. Problem Gambling Helpline Reports More Online Betting Related Contacts

The US National Problem Gambling Helpline handled more than 31,000 contacts per month in 2025, with online gambling, younger callers and financial stress playing a larger role in requests for help.

Good to Know

• Nearly 49.48% of Helpline contacts came from people aged 18 to 34.
• Online and app-based gambling rose to 31% of contacts, up from 23% in 2024.
• Financial stress remained the top reason for contact, rising to more than 73%.

Online gambling now sits almost level with slot machines and electronic gaming in the National Problem Gambling Helpline data. Traditional slots and electronic gaming dropped from 36% to 31% as a primary concern, while online and app-based gambling climbed to 31%.

Sports betting and card games also appeared more often in contacts. Easy access through mobile betting apps, legal sports betting growth across more states, and 24-hour gambling access all feed into that pattern. However, the report does not claim that any one product directly caused gambling harm.

Younger Contacts And Money Pressure Shape The Data

The age profile tells a clear story. Nearly half of all contacts came from people aged 18 to 34, continuing a younger trend among people seeking gambling support.

Student gambling has also drawn more attention. Ole Miss researchers recently surveyed students across seven state universities and found that 39% had gambled in the past year. The University of Mississippi has since launched the first academic center in the U.S. focused on student gambling, with work planned around research, prevention, treatment and college sports integrity.

The Helpline also reported a more mixed caller profile. The share of contacts identifying as white has fallen since 2023, while multiracial contacts have risen. Men still made up about 70% of contacts, but almost 1% identified as transgender or non-binary for the first time. About 4% of contacts came from spouses or family members asking for help for someone else.

Money problems remained the main reason people reached out. More than 73% reported financial stress tied to gambling, up from 66% in 2024. Mental health concerns appeared in 32% of contacts, while relationship problems appeared in 22%.

The report does not estimate how many Americans have gambling problems overall. Instead, it shows who contacted the Helpline and what they reported when they reached out. Even so, the 2025 data gives regulators, operators and treatment groups a sharper view of how online betting, money pressure and younger users now overlap in gambling harm conversations.

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