Florida’s Gambling Helpline Is Seeing More People Calling, Texting for Help

Florida is experiencing a surge in texts and calls to its gambling helpline, indicative of more people facing gambling-related harm and issues brought on by their participation in online sports betting specifically.

Florida Continues to See a Rise in Gambling-Related Problems 

According to the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, there were 1,355 calls in 2024 specifically tied to help about Internet gambling, up from 589 in 2023. 

According to the organization, this specifically has to do with online sports gambling, as calls for non-online forms of gambling have dropped to 2,452 in 2025, compared to 2,583 in 2023. 

The demographics still lean towards young men, but more women are calling in as well to report issues with their gambling habits and seek help to get them under control. 

People contacting 888-ADMIT-IT have had some very serious callers as well, with 13% reporting losing more than $200,000 on online sports betting, and 23% reporting losses between $50,000 and $200,000. 

The average person is racking up debt to the tune of $21,800. These callers, and the percentage of their spending, suggest that many people are struggling to keep their gambling habits in check.

Presently, the only certified gambling operator in Florida is the Seminole Tribe-owned Hard Rock Bet app. It is also the largest contributor to the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling’s efforts to keep people safe and resources available to them to get the help they need.

Important Data to Help Chart a Path Forward 

The most recent results also looked into the mental well-being of callers, and collated other important data that could help better flesh out the exact impact that gambling-related harm and debt have on people, including family members.

For example, family neglect and family conflict were reported in 40% and 63% of the cases, respectively.  Suicidal ideations or attempts are also reported more frequently in 2024 – 25% and 21% in 2025, while the rate stood at 20% in 2023. 

Gamblers who engaged in online sports betting also reported a higher degree of issues at work and school. Financial difficulties are also reported by people on high incomes, highlighting how gambling-related harm can affect people from across different parts of society.