Illinois now treats gambling addiction like alcohol and drug abuse under state law

• Illinois will now do more for people experiencing gambling-related harm, codifying it into the state’s legal framework
• Problem gambling is now treated with the same seriousness as alcohol and drug abuse and, importantly, allows access to the same treatment and recovery resources
• This is an ambitious step for any state in the US, and it will now be put to a real test to see if Illinois can bring down the number of problem gamblers

Illinois has made a crucial step toward reining in problem gambling, with the state acknowledging that it needs to strengthen protections, help, and treatment resources for those experiencing harm from the activity.

Illinois forges ahead by placing gambling addiction on equal legal footing with substance abuse

The best way to do that, according to legislators, is to codify gambling addiction as a disorder comparable in intensity and harm to alcohol and substance abuse, which is precisely what Senate Bill 2749 aims to do, signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker, who has taken the issue to heart as well.

Sponsored by Sen. Julie Morrison, the bill seeks to go beyond the common narrative about problem gambling, with help resources and funding often left to marginal revenue streams, and incorporate it into the larger Illinois Department of Human Services’ behavioral health division, meaning that people experiencing related harm will have the opportunity to access. these resources readily.

"We see people who have alcohol dependencies, people who have drug addictions. I think we recognize those as disorders, and it’s in statute, and we are providing different granting mechanisms, different ways to help those people across the state," Morrison said.

She argued that the successful passage and signing of the bill is an important cornerstone to help prevent further harm and ensure that the people who experience it currently have the means to get their life back on track.

Gambling addiction a serious issue that needs addressing in Illinois

"We haven’t done that with gambling, and that’s what this bill is about. It’s just recognizing the fact this is also another addiction disorder, and those people also need the help," the senator concluded.

Illinois is estimated to have 383,000 adults who are experiencing gambling-related harm and who have a gambling problem specifically, with another 761,000 adults at risk. All told, this accounts for 11% of the state’s adult population.

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