Logan Crawford

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Sep 16, 2026, 5:42 PM

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Updated

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Using a phone to bet on sports has become New York’s second-largest source of gaming revenue, trailing only the state lottery.

According to a new report from the state comptroller, mobile sports betting generated $1.3 billion in revenue in 2026. But the report also found a nearly 9% increase in calls to the state’s problem gambling hotline.

“It can be very addictive,” said Judie Rokofsky of Plainview. “Young adults, they think it’s fun.”

At Wellbridge Addiction Treatment and Research in Calverton, clinicians say they are seeing more people struggling with gambling addiction.

“It’s almost like switching seats on the Titanic,” said Deanna McCartin, of Wellbridge Addiction Treatment and Research. “If I put the substance use disorder down, then I’ll pick something else up to relive those feelings of escape that I’m looking for.”

Mental health professionals say part of the problem is the ease of access to mobile sports betting and the convenience of having it available on a smartphone.

“It has been getting worse, especially among young people, because it’s so much easier to gamble,” said Adam Birkenstock of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. “You don’t have to go somewhere. You don’t even have to use physical money. It’s all online. It’s in your phone. It’s in your pocket.”

The Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) says the suicide rate is three times higher for someone with a gambling problem. Advocates stress that treatment and support are available for those struggling with addiction.

“Getting help is just the first step to fixing an issue like this,” Birkenstock said.

For help with addiction:

• Wellbridge Addiction Treatment and Research: https://wellbridge.org/

• Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence: https://licadd.org/