What Gambling Attitudes Look Like in Ohio
The National Survey of Gambling Attitudes and Gambling Experiences 1.0, otherwise known as NGAGE, provides insight into Ohioans’ common attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding gambling.
The survey was commissioned by the National Council on Problem Gambling and was conducted in November 2018. The report looks at aggregated data across the country by interviewing handfuls of the general population. It also breaks down data for individual states like Ohio.
The NGAGE survey is the first major national research project on gambling issues and public attitudes about gambling since the 1999 National Gambling Impact Study Commission. As a result, this study sheds new light on behaviors that surround gambling, especially with the recent increases in the popularity of online gambling and sports betting.
For Ohio, 501 people were surveyed, with an additional 211 people who identified exclusively as sports bettors. According to the survey, the most popular forms of betting in Ohio included the lottery, raffle, and the occasional visit to the casino.
Some other key findings include:
- 76% believe that gambling addiction is the same as drug or alcohol addiction
- 76% agree that gambling is not a good way to make money
- 65% agree that the gambling industry should do more to help those in need
- 62% do not believe that gambling is immoral
While many Ohioans want to access help for themselves or a loved one, many do not know where to find the services needed. According to the survey:
BeforeYouBet is a great resource if you think you or a loved one might have a problem with gambling and need help. Know you’re not alone and that free help is always available. You can call the Problem Gambling Helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-800-589-9966, or by texting 4HOPE to 741741.
There are also free local resources available at BeforeYouBet.org, where you can learn about the signs of problem gambling and take the two-minute quiz to gauge your risk level.