Expert warns Nebraska problem gambling rises, younger generation at risk

• Mike Sciandra, the Executive Director of the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling, spoke about the importance of the state's program that provides support to people affected by gambling harm
• The expert warned that in the last two years, the number of Nebraskans seeking help has increased by 30%
• Sciandra sounded the alarm about the normalization of gambling, which impacts high schools and colleges across the state

The expansion of legal sports betting has been ongoing since 2018 and presently, fewer than a dozen states have yet to offer the activity.

While legal wagering benefits professional sports, generates tax revenue and grants fans a chance to legally wager on their favorite team, it also raises concerns about problem gambling and harm.

That's precisely the case for Nebraska, where legal sports betting is available via racinos since June 2023.

One expert recently highlighted a concerning trend about the impact of the activity, warning that it even impacts colleges across Nebraska.

30% increase in the number of Nebraskans seeking support due to gambling

On Monday, the local media outlet, KMTV, interviewed Mike Sciandra, the Executive Director of the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), an organization that focuses on the prevention of gambling related harm and provides support to people who need it most.

He explained that the state is fortunate to have the Nebraska Gamblers Assistance Program, which is funded by gaming taxes, and enables people affected by at-risk or problem gambling to access free of charge treatment and support provided by trained, professional counselors.

While the NCPG's work is vital for the well-being of many Nebraskans, Sciandra pointed to a concerning trend.

He revealed that in the last two years, the number of people who have reached out for help has increased by a whopping 30%.

Sciandra, who was also impacted by problem gambling and has successfully recovered, acknowledged that problem gambling is just as concerning public health issue as other mental health disorders.

"They have done brain scans of people who are gambling and brain scans of people who are on drugs like cocaine, and similar portions of the brain light up," Sciandra said in an interview for the local media outlet.

Betting impacts high schools and colleges across the state

Equally as concerning, he explained that there is an even bigger risk for the younger generation in the context that this is the first generation to experience "gambling truly normalized within the culture."

Sciandra outlined that the NCPG is actively collaborating with close to two dozen colleges across Nebraska and there is a growing concern related to sports betting.

"Every high school, every college campus, has illegal sports books still," the expert warned.

Besides gambling-related harm, excessive betting has also put pressure on professional and college athletes.

Over the last couple of years, not only were professional athletes involved in gambling-related scandals, but some disgruntled gamblers, who have lost their wagers, posted threats, often via social media.

Such threats and gambling-related scandals urged professional leagues across the country to consider enhanced rules to ensure the integrity of sports competitions and protect athletes from harm.

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