NY State Senator To Host Talk About Problem Gambling
Joseph Addabbo Has Been A Major Proponent For Betting Legalization

One of the New York State politicians who has been at the forefront of promoting the legalization of sports betting in the state acknowledges the potential downsides of the Empire State’s embrace of betting. State Senator Joseph Addabbo — who represents New York’s 15th District in the borough of Queens (where the Mets call home — is serving as a problem gambling talk host on March 12th, as he’s headlining an online Zoom discussion to inform the public about problem gambling and potential resources for help.
Addabbo — the chairman of the State Senate’s Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering — is an interesting person to host this talk because he has been a vocal supporter of sports betting legalization throughout its journey in New York, culminating in legalization in January 2022. So, it’s noteworthy that he’s acknowledging the potential issues with betting sports online, particularly in New York, which seems to be challenging betting handle records every month.
March 12th also is Gambling Disorder Screening Day, which is the impetus for the Zoom conference. The Resorts World New York City casino, the New York Council on Problem Gambling, and the National Council on Problem Gambling are all partners with Addabbo for the event, which will allow participants to remain anonymous and will begin at 6:00 pm ET on the 12th. Addabbo has said that his goal with this Zoom is to legitimize gambling addiction and related disorders as medical issues that warrant treatment in the same vein as other mental health or physical disorders.
Addabbo Has Been Leader In Gaming Push
No New York State politician has been as instrumental in getting legal sports betting over the finish line as Addabbo. The Las Vegas betting odds won’t be replaced by New York City betting odds in the near future, but New York has become a huge betting market in a relatively short period of time. Addabbo has also reintroduced legislation to legalize remote online gambling on typical casino favorites like poker, blackjack, and craps.
Addabbo has been instrumental in New York, overcoming concerns from tribal casino operators and anti-betting advocates to implement online betting shortly after PASPA’s repeal. The Empire State’s growth in online betting has been rapid and, in January 2024, the state set a sports betting revenue record of $211.5 million, over $23 million more than the previous record set in December 2023. New Yorkers have clearly taken to the online gambling sites.
On a more serious note, Addabbo putting his name on this online discussion and taking the time to serve as problem gambling talk host gives it much more legitimacy than if it was led by another politician who isn’t as publicly known for their gaming views. March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, so it’s the right time to offer people the support that’s needed when gambling addiction does arise. If casinos and sportsbook operators are making so much in profit, it means that many bettors are losing often.
Awareness Is Key
While many people can gamble — and win or lose — without much issue or without it taking over their lives, others just can’t have that kind of internal restraint. Professor David Nutt, a gambling psychology expert and neuropsychopharmacologist at Imperial College London, will participate in the talk with Addabbo. Nutt says he intends to show scans of how peoples’ brains change from before they place to after they place a bet, demonstrating how easily addiction can take hold.
Addabbo, as problem gambling talk host, will also discuss how to spot the signs of potential addiction, how someone can be screened for having a gambling disorder, and how people who are concerned that they might become addicted can distance themselves from potential triggers. Most importantly, though, the talk will serve as an outlet for people to candidly discuss their concerns with problem gambling and for people who knows problem gamblers to have more of an idea of how to best handle the situation for the best.
It can be a taboo topic to discuss, but with sports betting being legalized in more and more places around the country, it’s a worthwhile conversation to have. It’s also a good idea to remember that when casinos/operators have huge monthly profits, those dollars are coming from regular bettors as well as professional sharps.