Why It Matters
Two years after North Carolina legalized mobile sports betting, the state is confronting a growing public health consequence: a surge in gambling addiction, financial ruin, and mental health crises — particularly among young men. The rapid expansion of online wagering platforms has made gambling more accessible than ever before, and counselors, hotline operators, and addiction specialists across North Carolina say they are struggling to keep pace with the demand for help.
The issue has implications for state policy, mental health infrastructure, and how North Carolina balances tax revenue generation against the social costs of expanded gambling access.
What Happened
North Carolina officially launched mobile sports betting in March 2024, allowing residents to place wagers through online platforms such as DraftKings and FanDuel directly from their smartphones. Lawmakers at the time argued the move was necessary to capture tax revenue that was flowing to neighboring states with legal betting markets.
Within two years, the consequences of that decision are becoming visible in therapists’ offices and crisis hotlines across the state. Licensed mental health counselors in Charlotte and other cities report seeing increasing numbers of young men arriving deep in debt, having borrowed money from family and friends, and in some cases contemplating self-harm after significant financial losses.
Jonathan Hetterly, a licensed mental health counselor based in Charlotte, described how quickly the situation can deteriorate for some clients. “I’ve had some that have lost thousands of dollars in an hour,” he said. Charlotte therapist Allan Howe echoed those concerns, noting that the damage extends well beyond finances. His clients are moving back in with parents, lying to romantic partners, and suffering significant blows to their self-esteem. “It has just created a monster,” Howe said.
Gary Gray, director of the North Carolina Council on Problem Gambling, said Gamblers Anonymous meetings across the state are reporting near-record attendance levels.
By the Numbers
- $13.5 billion — Total amount wagered by North Carolina bettors since mobile sports betting launched in March 2024, far exceeding initial state projections.
- $262 million+ — Tax revenue generated by the state’s 18 percent tax on operator profits, directed toward college athletics, prevention programs, and the general fund.
- 3x increase — Calls to the state’s problem gambling hotline more than tripled between 2021 and 2025 as legal betting expanded.
- Age 43 to 38 — The average age of callers to the problem gambling hotline dropped by five years over the same period, reflecting a shift toward younger gamblers seeking help.
- March 2024 — The date North Carolina’s first legal mobile sports betting apps went live, marking the start of rapid market growth.
Zoom Out
North Carolina is not alone in grappling with these consequences. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting in 2018, more than 30 states have legalized some form of sports wagering. National studies and reports from other early-adopting states such as New Jersey, Illinois, and Colorado have documented similar patterns: increased calls to problem gambling hotlines, younger demographics seeking addiction treatment, and a rise in gambling-related financial distress.
The mobile-first nature of modern sports betting is widely cited by addiction experts as a key driver of problem gambling. Unlike traditional casinos, which require physical travel, smartphone apps allow bettors to place wagers instantly and repeatedly — sometimes dozens of times during a single game. This constant accessibility is believed to accelerate the development of compulsive behavior, particularly in younger users who grew up with smartphones.
Nationally, advocacy groups have called on state legislatures to increase funding for problem gambling treatment and to impose tighter restrictions on advertising, particularly ads targeting younger audiences.
What’s Next
North Carolina lawmakers and public health officials are expected to face growing pressure to expand funding for gambling addiction services and to evaluate whether existing prevention programs are adequately resourced. The state currently directs a portion of sports betting tax revenue toward prevention efforts, but counselors and advocacy groups argue that those allocations have not kept pace with the scale of the problem.
The North Carolina Council on Problem Gambling is anticipated to continue monitoring hotline data and attendance trends at support group meetings, with updated figures likely informing future legislative discussions. Mental health providers in the state are also calling for increased training resources to better equip counselors to identify and treat gambling disorders alongside co-occurring conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Whether the state legislature will revisit the regulatory framework governing mobile sports betting — including advertising rules, betting limits, or operator accountability measures — remains to be seen as the second full year of legal wagering unfolds.