by Mia Palazzo CTNewsJunkie
HARTFORD, CT – The Public Health Committee voted to send House Bill 7215 to the floor of the House on Wednesday to address problem gambling, particularly as it relates to internet gaming disorder, which has surged since the state legalized online sports betting and casino gaming in 2021.
The committee passed the legislation on a 20-10 vote with two absent or not voting.
The bill directs the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to establish a program focused on treating and rehabilitating individuals and families impacted by internet gaming disorder.
This disorder, currently listed as a “condition for further study” in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), has prompted concerns from state officials and experts about its increasing prevalence.
Nearly $45 billion has been wagered across various platforms including online sports betting and casino games since Connecticut expanded gambling opportunities to include sports betting and online games in 2021, according to the Department of Consumer Protection.
The state has earned more than $383 million in revenue from sports betting, with an additional $160 million generated by online casinos. However, these successes have come with a downside: a sharp rise in gambling addiction, particularly among young adults.
According to Connecticut’s 2022 Epidemiological Profile: Problem Gambling, 35.2% of individuals aged 18-25 engaged in some form of gambling, with an increasing number displaying problematic gambling behaviors since the introduction of legalized online gambling.
A 2024 study by DMHAS found that half of all of the sports betting revenue comes from less than 2% of bettors considered to be problem gamblers.
HB 7215 focuses on providing treatment and rehabilitation services for individuals suffering from internet gaming disorder. The bill aims to prevent further harm by offering support to affected families and individuals through prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation programs.
DMHAS Commissioner Nancy Navarretta Credit: File Photo / CTNewsJunkie
However, DMHAS Commissioner Nancy Navarretta explained in her written testimony to the Public Health Committee that the issue is not as straightforward as it may seem.
She said the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has yet to officially recognize internet gaming disorder, making it challenging to establish clear clinical standards or effective treatment methods. Despite these hurdles, she said DMHAS recognizes the importance of addressing the emerging problem.
“DMHAS is very interested in continuing to monitor the progression of this analysis,” Navarretta said, “but think it is premature at this time to fully develop a program without clear clinical standards or official recognition in the broader behavioral health field.”
The Public Health Committee has until April 2 to vote the bill out of committee.
Rep. Kathy Kennedy smiles at a comment during a Public Health Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Credit: Mia Palazzo / CTNewsJunkie