Arizona Survey Finds Nearly 20% of Adults at Moderate to High Risk for Gambling Problems

State of Play’s TL;DR

• An Arizona survey found that nearly 20% of adult gamblers in the state fell into a moderate to high-risk category for gambling-related problems.
• The findings arrive as Arizona’s legal sports betting market continues to expand and concerns about accessibility grow.

A new Arizona Department of Gaming survey found that 84% of adults in the state gambled in the past 12 months, and nearly 20% fell into a moderate to high-risk category for gambling-related problems.

Sports betting became legal in Arizona in 2021, and the state now has 14 licensed operators. According to the report cited by Arizona’s Family, licensed operators took in more than $670 million in bets in May alone. The survey also said 30% of adults gamble every week.

The Arizona Department of Gaming’s findings point to a consumer-protection challenge alongside market growth. The TV report linked the higher-risk figures to the broader availability of betting since legalization, as well as the presence of both licensed and unlicensed platforms.

Expert points to accessibility

Eloise Mikkelsen, director of problem gambling at the Arizona Department of Gaming, said the delayed nature of gambling harm can make the trend harder to spot early.

“When new activities are introduced, when new products are introduced, there’s a certain amount of time when everybody’s having a great time as they should be and fallouts tend to not show up for quite some time.”

She also pointed to convenience as a key driver: “For me it’s all about accessibility.”

For bettors, the numbers are a reminder that a larger legal market does not eliminate risk. For operators and regulators, they add pressure to keep responsible gambling messaging visible while also addressing the growth of unlicensed options mentioned in the report.

The Arizona Department of Gaming said help is available through its hotline, 1-800-NEXT-STEP.

Mikkelsen underscored that message.

“People understand that there’s hope and help available.”

Based on reporting by Arizona’s Family via 3TV/CBS5.