Legalized Online Gambling Sparks Increase In Younger People Seeking Help

The number of Connecticut residents seeking help for gambling addiction is growing larger and younger, according to problem gambling experts and mental health providers, who say they are fielding an influx of new patients following the state’s legalization of some forms of online gambling. Professionals say that the widespread accessibility of gambling has exacerbated addiction since online and mobile sports betting and virtual casinos opened in October. The largest increase? Young men participating in sports betting. “If you asked me six months ago, the normal person who you think is a problem gambler would have been that little old lady at the slot machine.