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Illinois has formally classified gambling disorder as an addiction, a change advocates call one of the state’s most significant responsible-gambling reforms in years.
Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2749 on July 24, updating the state’s Substance Use Disorder Act so gambling disorder falls under the same legal framework as alcohol and drug addiction. The law took effect immediately, letting the Illinois Department of Human Services expand programs for compulsive gamblers and their families.
Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Lake Forest, who sponsored the bill, said the state already funds treatment for alcohol and drug dependencies through statute but had not extended the same recognition to gambling.
“We haven’t done that with gambling, and that’s what this bill is about,” Morrison said, adding that compulsive gambling deserves equal footing as an addiction disorder.
The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and cleared the House with only 11 Republican lawmakers voting against it.
New law unlocks state-funded treatment for gamblers
Previously, people struggling solely with gambling addiction generally could not receive state-funded inpatient treatment unless they also had a qualifying substance use disorder. The law now allows Illinois to fund treatment for gambling disorder on its own.
It also directs IDHS to expand counselor training and work with schools and colleges on prevention and early-intervention programs aimed at identifying risky behavior before it worsens.
A spokesperson for Pritzker said the law builds on the administration’s commitment to pairing gambling regulation with consumer protections and investment in treatment and prevention.
Illinois gamblers lost $7.7 billion last year alone
Gambling disorder often develops without the visible symptoms associated with drug or alcohol misuse, making it easier to conceal until financial or emotional damage becomes severe. Behavioral health specialists say the dopamine response that gambling triggers can create a compulsion as strong as substance addiction.
The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates that one in five people with a gambling disorder has attempted suicide, one of the highest rates linked to any addictive disorder.
State estimates suggest more than 1 million Illinois adults — over one in 10 — have a gambling problem or are at risk of developing one, a figure that has drawn scrutiny as sports betting, casinos and video gaming terminals expand statewide. A Capitol News Illinois investigation found Illinois residents lost more than $7.7 billion gambling last year, much of it from compulsive gamblers depleting savings, inheritances and work bonuses in attempts to recoup losses.
Ryan Aten, a policy analyst with the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health, called treatment resources for gambling disorder “a leap year behind” those available for substance use disorders but described the new law as a “massive step” toward closing that gap, since dedicated gambling treatment infrastructure has lagged far behind facilities for drug and alcohol addiction.
Recognition arrives without dedicated treatment funding
SB 2749 does not include dedicated new funding for implementation. Lawmakers did set aside $15 million for gambling treatment and prevention in the fiscal year 2026 budget, $5 million more than the year before. Still, only about 6 cents of every $100 collected in state gambling tax revenue went toward treatment and prevention last year, according to figures from the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health.
The law also does not make gambling addiction treatment eligible for Medicaid reimbursement, which advocates say remains a major barrier for lower-income residents. Aten said he hopes future legislation will address Medicaid coverage and build more durable funding streams.
Illinois appears to be the first state to codify gambling disorder within its substance use disorder statute. This distinction could qualify the state for additional state and federal funding streams tied to substance abuse treatment, according to Governing.
Supporters say the recognition itself carries weight beyond funding. IDHS has said classifying gambling disorder within state law helps legitimize the condition and reduce the stigma that keeps many people from seeking help.
“This bill has been probably one of the biggest gambling bills we’ve seen in many, many years,” Aten said, “because it does bring that awareness … to an emerging problem.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction or thoughts of suicide, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text at 988.
