Kris Johnson iGaming Journalist
Kris Johnson is a Charlotte-based deputy editor. He joined CasinoBeats in July 2025 and oversees the daily news flow of editing and publishing. Kris also reports on all aspects of the gambling industry with a...
Read Full BioIt didn’t take long for gambling addiction cases to spike after North Carolina legalized online sports betting in March 2024. That’s according to Sara Howe, executive director of the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina.
“Since we launched, within six months of sports betting launching in North Carolina, the North Carolina Problem Gambling Helpline saw a 79% increase in calls,” Howe said.
Approaching the two-year anniversary of legalization, North Carolina has amassed more than $12 billion in total handle. Howe noted that she has “seen an increase in people reaching out for help — many of them first-time gamblers drawn in by sports betting.”
With Super Bowl 60 now in the rear-view mirror, it won’t be long before March Madness sets in for college basketball fans. The ubiquity of sports betting ads can make life even more challenging for individuals with at-risk tendencies.
Related: One Man’s Recovery From Gambling Addiction Gives Others Reason for Hope
Former Charlotte Hornet Rex Chapman Shares His Story
Former NBA player Rex Chapman, who spent the first three years of his career with the Charlotte Hornets, shared his struggles with gambling addiction on the APNC’s podcast.
After amassing $40+ million in career earnings, Chapman reportedly lost between $10-20 million gambling, with the majority of that coming at casinos. Chapman, who also battled an opioid addiction, has publicly stated that his gambling addiction was more difficult to overcome.
“Just the constant roller coaster, I think, kept me from addressing anything important going on in my life, anything that I needed to address that might keep me from that behavior,” Chapman said. “So I was just so far lost in my gambling addiction that I didn’t, you know, I really couldn’t see straight.”
Also read: Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte: Gambling Addiction ‘Damn Near Ruined My Life’
‘Know There’s Help Out There’
Chapman came out on the other side of his gambling addiction, which can have more than just financial consequences.
“There’s research that shows that family members would be embarrassed to say their family member had a gambling disorder, so then they don’t want to raise their hand, which is why now you have a higher suicide rate,” Howe said. “Because by the time you’ve gotten to that point, you could have lost your house, you could have lost your family.”
As with other diseases, early detection is critical. Experts such as Howe “urge anyone who feels their betting is getting out of control to seek help early.”
“Where possible, addiction is a family disease, so where we can bring everybody together and start that healing, that’s really, really helpful,” Howe said. “At the end of the day, hope is not lost, and give yourself some grace and time, and know there’s help out there.”
Editor’s note: The National Problem Gambling Helpline™ is 1-800-522-4700. It serves as a resource for individuals who may be struggling with problem gambling or gambling addiction, or their loved ones. North Carolinians can also call the NC Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-877-718-5543.
