In Case You Haven't Heard…

There's a currently growing interest in gambling disorder, and the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council Helpline shows that most of it relates to sports betting, Gambling News reported last week. The helpline has seen a “serious increase” in calls, with 4,520 in the first six months of 2026 — more than a 50% increase over the same period last year. Commenting on the latest numbers, Arkansas Problem Gambling Council Executive Director Vena Schexnayder has analyzed the jump in the amount of people placing calls and what may have triggered it — besides the pure sports betting volume. “According to Schexnayder, one of the key drivers of the trend has been the increase in gambling marketing ads and the introduction of new local gambling companies, with FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook expanding into the state over the spring through partnerships with land‐based properties,” the Gambling News article stated. “During March Madness this year, the Problem Gambling Council similarly highlighted the need for vigilance and noted that more people had been calling.”