This report examines the effect of legalized gambling on the citizens of Connecticut. The state requires periodic reviews of the impact of gambling. This is the first mandated research on the social and economic impacts of legalized gambling that the state has released since online casino gambling and sports betting were legalized in 2021. The last report on the impact of legalized gambling in the state was in 2009.
The 2024 study uses data from stakeholder interviews, population studies, surveys, operators, economic modeling, and mobile devices. In addition to reporting on the prevalence of gambling and problem gambling, the report also assesses the available problem gambling treatment resources and recommends best practices and regulatory changes.
Some of the main findings include:
- People at risk of or experiencing problem gambling make up just under 7% of the population, but account for over 70% of gaming revenue.
- 1.8% of the population (50,000 people) were estimated to be experiencing problem gambling.
- 4.9% of the population were estimated to be at risk of gambling harm.
- Higher rates of gambling harm were found for men, people under 65, Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, other ethnicities, and those with lower levels of education.
- The population that struggles the most with problem gambling are American-born white men between 18 and 34.
- Close to a third of people experiencing problem gambling were not aware of the state's problem gambling helpline. About half did not know about the state's voluntary exclusion programs.
- The report recommends promotion and outreach to people most at-risk about how getting treatment for problem gambling can be effective, how cost-free treatment exists, and that seeking help is not shameful.
