CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With sports betting now legal in North Carolina - and sportsbooks running swaths of ads to promote their business - there's a serious consideration for the addicting side of gambling.
"Online gambling, sports gambling is the equivalent of gambling heroin," Les Bernal with Stop Predatory Gambling said. "You are going to unleash an incredible epidemic of child gambling because of the amount of advertising that comes along with online sports gambling."
Betting apps have warnings encouraging users to limit their gambling with users able to adjust the settings to limit how much they can bet, deposit into their account and the amount of time they can spend using the app.
Part of the legal authorization that permitted sports betting did send more resources to help those struggling with gambling addictions.
If you are concerned about your gambling or worried about a friend, you can call the NC Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-877-718-5543. You can also contact the National Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
"They’re saturating the market obviously," Art Klose, a licensed clinical addiction specialist who runs Coastal Therapy Center, said of the mass advertising behind sports betting.
"Bright lights, big celebrities…this is fun," Christina Klose, who runs the clinic alongside Art Klose, said about the ads. "This is exciting and then at the very end of those commercials…real quick…1-800-gamblers."
Art Klose warns about getting detached in the virtual world.
"People tend to detach themselves because it is online," he said. "It’s on an app on your phone, but you’re losing real money."
Staying aware of your own habits is key, Art Klose said.
"There are thousands of people that can safely gamble, but the awareness is key," he said. "Anybody can fall victim to gambling. There are no boundaries."
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has resources to help with gambling addictions. They run a gambling addiction hotline at 1-877-718-5543, by texting "morethanagamenc" to 53342" and on their website, which also features email and live chat support.