Pennsylvania recently published its latest online gambling report assessing the impact of online gambling on state residents. The study found that online gambling prevalence in the state has remained stable at 11%, with 1 in 10 Pennsylvanians reporting that they had gambled online in the previous 12 months.
Men Most Likely to Engage in Online Gambling
More than 1,100 Pennsylvania residents participated in the latest study which covered the 2021-2022 period. The study was carried out by Penn State University, in partnership with the Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs (DDAP), with supporting data from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).
The latest report shows that the majority of those engaging in online gambling in Pennsylvania are married and employed men in their mid to late 30s who are earning $50,000 or more. They are mostly white and live in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Sports betting is the top online format of choice for Pennsylvanian online gamblers and their main reason for gambling online is to seek enjoyment.
1 in 3 Experienced a Problem with Online Gambling
Of those that had engaged in online gambling in the previous 12 months, one in three reported experiencing at least one problem with their gambling. Calls made to the state’s 1-800-GAMBLER helpline increased by 46%, with online gambling concerns accounting for 20% of the total calls, a similar figure recorded in the first report.