Ronald Reagan used to quip that the most terrifying words in the English language are, “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” The point, of course, was that well-intentioned programs often do more harm than good.
But in that formation, the government is at least trying to help. How quaint. Increasingly, it feels as though state government could care less about our well-being as it attempts to suck money out of our pockets.
Question: Has the state’s rapid expansion of legalized gambling options been good for overall societal health? What about legalized cannabis? I think in both cases, the answer is obviously no.
Online sports betting became legal in New York in 2022. As a recent report by Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli noted, that expansion meant New York offered more gaming options than New Jersey and Nevada – placing New York among the eight states offering the most forms of gambling.
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From a state revenue perspective, that’s a massive win, as state revenues from lottery sales and gaming taxes grew from $2.8 billion to $4.8 billion annually in the decade leading up to 2023. But as DiNapoli’s report also noted, there are significant consequences to consider.
“Research indicates higher rates of gambling problems among individuals wagering with a mobile device, enabled by the accessibility, privacy and ease of smartphone use,” the report says. “These features, as well as the inducements provided by some mobile apps, can increase engagement, facilitate compulsive behaviors, and lead users to make a wider variety of and higher-risk bets.”
In other words, gambling can ruin lives. How many? Who knows. But the impact is probably greater than we realize.
New Yorkers seem to recognize the problem. In a new Siena College Research Institute poll, 39% of respondents said online sports gambling is bad for the state, while just 22% said it was good. No surprise, the poll also found that sports betting is particularly concentrated among young men, and studies have linked gambling expansions to falling credit scores and rising rates of bankruptcy and depression.
Does The State Care About Your Health And Happiness – Or Does Revenue Matter Most?
