Last Updated: Mar 18th, 2024

Last week, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services hosted the 16th Gambling Disorder Symposium. The forum included Michigan gambling disorder professionals and offered regular players from the Wolverine State access to training, treatment, and prevention resources for gambling addiction. In addition to professional workshops, the symposium featured keynote speakers who shared their personal stories about gambling addiction and how they navigate their recovery process.

One of the symposium’s conclusions was that problem gambling awareness remains an issue in Michigan. The state boasts one of the largest iGaming markets in the United States, with 14 licensed Michigan casinos online as of March 2024 and a new brand scheduled to join the market by year’s end. Recently, Caesar Entertainment purchased the WynnBET license and is gearing up to launch a new casino app in the Great Lakes State. 

However, problem gambling awareness is not keeping pace with the rapidly growing industry. Although resources are available, the expansion of online gambling in the Wolverine State is a cause for concern, especially after a 2023 study conducted by the Gambling Research and Policy Initiative at a Michigan university indicated a lack of gambling education and no awareness of a campus policy for assistance with gambling issues. Another worrying sign from the survey was that 22% of students are at risk for problem gambling.
 

Problem Gambling Resources in Michigan

Players in the Wolverine State are not left to fend for themselves when they start experiencing gambling problems. Non-medical programs are accessible to players needing help, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services provides a dedicated helpline at 1-800-270-7117 and the Responsible Gambling hotline at 1-888-223-3044. 

In addition to those two phone numbers, several other organizations offer assistance, such as the National Council on Problem Gambling, Gamblers Anonymous, which uses a similar method to Alcoholics Anonymous, and S.M.A.R.T. Recovery, which stands for Self Management And Recovery Training, a multi-step program with a cognitive approach to the problem.

Most licensed operators in Michigan offer responsible gambling resources such as deposit and betting limits, timeouts, and self-exclusion schemes. Operators know that the entertainment provided via their lobbies and no deposits bonus Michigan deals can cause players to develop an addiction and are eager to facilitate safe gaming. 
 

FanDuel Introduces Pilot Program for Problem Gambling

The second-best performing online casino in Michigan and a national leader in online gaming, FanDuel, announced an initiative to raise awareness for responsible gaming through a partnership with Kindbridge Behavioral Health, a pioneering mental health service provider for problem gambling. 

FanDuel will provide financial support for the program, enabling players to schedule appointments via telehealth services with problem gambling outpatient treatment providers. The pilot program was initiated in New Jersey and Ohio and will expand to the remaining U.S. markets of FanDuel, including Michigan, if successful. 

The program will include players on an active self-exclusion at FanDuel in the previous two mentioned markets, where they will be able to benefit from complementary mental health assessment and receive support from specially designed educational groups.