Calls to Michigan’s gambling hotline have spiked following launch of online betting

LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Calls to Michigan’s Gambling Disorder Program have spiked since online gambling became legal in the state in January.

They say the helpline took between 600 and 800 calls a month from October to December of 2020. But for January, nearly 1,050 calls were made and over 1,300 were made in February.

Program Director Aria Lucas says calls it a significant jump and she expects the numbers to continue to rise this year.