September 2020 produced record-breaking numbers for combined legal sports betting handle in the US. The nation’s 18 legal sports betting jurisdictions (17 states plus Washington D.C.) saw nearly $3 billion in wagers come in for September.

Oftentimes, a person with a gambling addiction also suffers from bipolar disorder, depression, ADHD or obsessive-compulsive disorder, so medication or therapy to treat those conditions can alleviate gambling addiction. Gamblers Anonymous and other self-help groups help many people as well. On Wednesday, the Nevada Gaming Control Board released just how much the sports shutdown impacted the state’s sportsbooks in the month of March. The total amount of money wagered on sports in the.

The return of NFL and NCAA football bolstered the surging US sports betting industry to its biggest month yet. Since the overturn of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018, legal sports betting in the US shows an upward trend with seemingly no sign of a slowdown in sight.

Six US states brought in more than $200 million in betting handle for Septemeber:

September 2020 Sports Betting Handle

1. New Jersey ($748,588,349)

Powered by the biggest mobile sports betting market in the nation, New Jersey has topped the overall sports betting handle list every month for 2020. Since introducing sports betting shortly after the fall of PASPA, New Jersey has overtaken Nevada as the sports wagering capital of the US.

December 2019 marks the last time Nevada topped the list in monthly sports betting handle among US states, New Jersey brought in nearly $750 million in bets in September, breaking its own record for US states set just one month earlier.

Online sportsbooks in the Garden State took in 91% of all bets for the month, as the appeal of mobile sports betting continues to result in record-breaking handle and revenue numbers. The trend toward mobile wagering will likely continue for the foreseeable future, even after Atlantic City casinos are allowed to operate at full capacity.

2. Nevada ($575,069,930)

Once the undisputed epicenter of sports betting in the US, Nevada has ceded that title to New Jersey in 2020. The home of the Las Vegas Strip still took in more than $575 million in sports bets for September, however.

Mobile wagering accounted for 55% of overall bets, the lowest percentage of any state on this list. The appeal of betting in person at a Las Vegas sportsbook clearly still offers massive viability for the Nevada sports betting market.

Like the other states on this list, mobile betting in Nevada can be conducted from anywhere within state borders. Nevada operates with an in-person registration requirement, however.

3. Pennsylvania ($462,787,394)

Pennsylvania continues to emerge as a contender for the No. 2 sports betting state in the US. The launch of Barstool Sportsbook in Pennsylvania took the Keystone State to new heights in September, with a state record $462.7 million in betting handle coming in for the month.

Like New Jersey, Pennsylvania’s wagering handle is dominated by online betting. Mobile betting produced 89% of that $462.7 million figure in September.

Barstool Sportsbook joins one of the most competitive markets in the US with the Pennsylvania launch. FanDuel Sportsbook enjoys status as the No. 1 mobile sportsbook in the state, but Barstool will likely contend for that spot soon.

4. Illinois ($285,240,209)

Just four months into its journey as a legal online sports betting state, Illinois leapfrogged Indiana and into the No. 4 spot on the US sports betting handle rankings.

September proved the biggest month yet by far for the fastest-growing sports betting market in the US. Revenue reports from the Illinois Gaming Board showed over $285 million in overall handle for the month.

Of that figure, 93% of overall handle comes from mobile sports betting. FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetRivers run close as the top handle-producing mobile sportsbooks in the state.

Ilinois law requires in-person registration for an online sports betting account, but that mandate is currently waived through Dec. 12.

5. Colorado ($207,655,942)

Colorado and Indiana are neck-and-neck for the No. 5 spot in the US. Colorado’s mobile sportsbooks take in more than 98% of total bets.

With retail sportsbooks restricted to three small mountain towns in the Centennial State, online betting will likely continue to power Colorado’s booming sports betting industry. The state’s online sports betting license holders include DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, FOX Bet, BetRivers, and several other big brands in the sports wagering industry.

6. Indiana ($207,450,106)

Can Indiana surpass the surging sports betting markets in Illinois and Colorado? The sports wagering business is big in the Hoosier State, as September’s $207.4 million betting handle figure set a new record for the state.

DraftKings and FanDuel dominate the Indiana market share. Mobile wagering accounted for 81% of overall bets in September for Indiana.

With so many people in New York State becoming addicted to gambling, many more family members and friends are forced to understand gambling addiction and its consequences, as well as how they should deal with the impact a parent’s gambling addiction has on their own lives.

If you’re the child of a problem gambler, we know it can be a difficult experience. You may be struggling to understand the addiction, and you might be asking, “Why can’t they just stop?” Maybe you want to help but you don’t know how, or you’re worried that your parent’s addiction may lead you to your own. If you still live at home, you might be dealing with the loss or downsizing of your home, or the selling of possessions to pay off the debt of the family.

We know this is a hard time, but you are not alone. Here are some things you should know:

Your Parent’s Gambling Addiction? It’s Not Your Fault.

Many children of problem gamblers wonder if it was something they did that drove their parents toward their addiction. That is not the case. You did not cause it, and you cannot single-handedly stop it. Remove that pressure from yourself and do not feel guilty. It was no choice or action of yours that caused this addiction.

It’s Not a Choice – It’s a Gambling Disorder.

Gambling addiction is a disease. It’s not a bad habit, carelessness or reckless behavior and it’s not a sign of a lack of care for the family at home. Those are misconceptions – some of the myths of problem gambling. Just like addictions to drugs and alcohol, this addiction is a disease. It’s a mental health issue, and that is why it is so hard for problem gamblers to stop.

Gambling addicts feel a “high” when they gamble – just as alcoholics do when they drink and drug addicts do when they use their choice of legal or illegal drugs. The only difference is gambling doesn’t require problem gamblers to ingest anything to reach a euphoric state.

Help is Available.

Counseling, whether in one-on-one sessions or support groups, is available throughout New York State for problem gamblers and for anyone affected by problem gambling.

While many family members may accompany the gambler to private therapy or counseling sessions, others find it valuable to go to Gam-Anon meetings attended by significant others, family members and friends of people with addictions. Gam-Anon provides you with the opportunity to share your story, concerns and frustration with people who have been through the same experience. You’ll feel less alone, and you’ll be able to get advice and emotional support from people who understand how you feel and how you can move forward.

Your Relationship May Be Strained Now, But It Can Be Repaired.

Gambling addiction can be cured, and work can be done to fix damage done, such as the accumulation of debt, the loss of property and the loss of the trust of family, friends and employers.

New Jersey Online Gambling Handle

You may be angry at your parent. They may have lied to you in order to gamble, or simply kept the truth from you for months or years. Their financial situation may have jeopardized your lifestyle or purchases you had expected to rely on, such as money put away for a new family car or the savings that had been kept for your college tuition. You may have to deal with the reactions of other family members, friends, neighbors or coworkers who have found out about your parent’s addiction and attempt to discuss it with you.

Your relationship with your parent can be repaired. It may take time, and it will take the work, but together you can begin communicating and return to a relationship that’s open and honest.

Gambling Handle

Need help?

If you’re ready to talk to a counselor or support group about your family member’s gambling, we are prepared to help you immediately. The NYS HOPEline offers help and hope to people every day. You can call toll-free anytime for assistance. Every call is anonymous and confidential.

Call 1-877-8-HOPENY.