New Jersey state Sen. John F. McKeon has called for gambling addiction to be treated as a public health issue, proposing stronger prevention measures, marketplace safeguards and improved access to treatment.
In a Nov. 1 opinion essay published by nj.com, McKeon argued that addressing gambling-related harm should extend beyond casinos and gambling regulators to include public health experts, educators, technology companies and the wider gambling industry.
His call follows a 2023 Rutgers University study that found 5.6% of New Jersey residents were considered high-risk problem gamblers, approximately three times the national average.
Among those surveyed who were classified as high-risk problem gamblers, nearly 28% reported having suicidal thoughts, while 20% said they had attempted suicide.
McKeon said gambling problems can contribute to debt, damaged relationships, job losses and serious behavioral health challenges. He outlined three priorities for the state: prevention and education, marketplace safeguards, and access to care.
On prevention, McKeon highlighted the increasingly blurred boundaries between gambling, gaming and investing, particularly for young people. He called for clearer education to help distinguish between the activities.
“A bet is not an investment, and an investment should not be treated like a bet,” McKeon wrote.
He also raised concerns about the growing accessibility of gambling through mobile phones, often around the clock, and the role of emerging technologies in making betting easier and faster.
McKeon identified sports betting, online casinos, prediction markets, artificial intelligence, social media and new payment technologies as developments that warrant closer examination.
He proposed bringing gambling businesses, regulators, technology companies, educators and public health experts together to assess the changes and consider appropriate safeguards.
“The goal is not to eliminate legitimate entertainment or economic activity. It is to make sure innovation does not move faster than responsibility,” he wrote.
The senator’s third priority is improving access to treatment. He wants New Jersey to assess its existing treatment capacity, identify gaps in available services and prepare its behavioral health system for future demand.
“No New Jersey resident or family in crisis should have to struggle to figure out where to turn or whether treatment is available,” McKeon said.