Illinois lawmakers are advancing legislation (SB 2749) that would formally classify gambling disorder as a substance use disorder under the state’s public health framework. Sponsored by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield), the bill aims to integrate gambling addiction into the Substance Use Disorder Act, empowering the Illinois Department of Human Services to expand prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.
The measure directs state agencies to develop school-based materials, partner with colleges, and launch a statewide hotline and public awareness campaign. While addressing real concerns about gambling addiction, it also expands bureaucracy, embeds new programming into schools, and broadens taxpayer-funded services without clear limits or accountability.
In effect, taxpayers will be asked to fund the growing social costs tied to the expansion of legalized gambling in Illinois—an expansion state lawmakers have repeatedly advanced over the past two decades despite warnings from a bipartisan commission that included former U.S. Senator Paul Simon. That commission urged a moratorium on gambling expansion. Issued in 1999, its warning was quickly set aside by policymakers prioritizing tax revenue.
State lawmakers are right to recognize the dangers of gambling and its far-reaching consequences. Consequences that they, in part, are responsible for. The solution is to stop expanding an industry that is predatory, prone to corruption, and destructive to individuals, families, and communities.
But will they? It’s doubtful. They receive far too much in revenue.
Asking taxpayers to fund yet another government program to deal with a largely avoidable fallout is what they do, but it is certainly not the answer. Gambling addiction is serious—and prevention is essential.
Background
For those of us who grew up in Illinois during the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, gambling wasn’t really on our radar. Our only exposure came through Hollywood movies and television shows—Las Vegas casinos, mob bookies, and cowboys playing poker. Later, it appeared in the form of lottery tickets and million-dollar jackpots. But today, gambling is no longer on the margins—it’s everywhere.
In 1990, Illinois became just the second state to legalize riverboat gambling. Then in June 2019, our Illinois state lawmakers approved six new casinos to add to the existing riverboat casinos. Today, we have 17 casinos throughout the state. We also have over 45,000 video slot machines in over 7,000 locations in bars, restaurants, and truck stops. We often call these “mini-casinos.”
In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court opened the door for nationwide sports betting in its Murphy v. NCAA decision. Since then, Americans have wagered well over $600 billion on sports. You no longer need to travel to a casino—or even leave your home. With a smartphone and an internet connection, anyone can place a bet in seconds.
Research from the American Gaming Association shows that more than half of American adults participated in some form of gambling in the past year, and over 20 percent placed a sports bet.
Gambling is not harmless entertainment. In fact, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) recognizes Gambling Disorder as an addictive disorder—placing it in the same category as substance abuse.
High Stakes for Our Families
A recent study by Common Sense Media found that more than one-third of boys ages 11 to 17 gambled in the past year. While some participated in traditional forms like sports betting or card games, the most common entry point was something many parents would never suspect—video games.
That should deeply concern us.
Gambling is not harmless entertainment. It can lead to serious financial harm and is linked to depression, anxiety, mood instability, and a range of destructive behaviors—including substance abuse and delinquency. And make no mistake: the gambling industry is actively working to hook users at younger and younger ages.
Parents and grandparents cannot afford to ignore this threat.
The adolescent brain is not fully developed until the mid-20s. Young people are not equipped to weigh long-term consequences or recognize how easily they can be manipulated. That means it is our responsibility to step in—to teach, to warn, and to guide.
We must expose the lie that gambling is just “harmless fun.” There is no such thing as a risk-free bet. The system is designed so that the house always wins—and the player eventually loses. And the State of Illinois has a vested interest in expanding gambling to generate revenue from the losses of its own citizens.
But beyond the practical dangers, there is a deeper issue at stake: the condition of the heart.
Scripture warns us about the love of money, and gambling feeds that temptation. It promotes the pursuit of quick gain rather than faithful stewardship. Yet money is not the goal—it is a resource entrusted to us by God to be used wisely and for His glory.
That is why we must be intentional in how we train the next generation.
Teach your children to work hard. Teach them to spend wisely. Teach them to love God above all else and to find their contentment in His provision—not in chance, luck, or the false promise of easy money.
Through both our words and our example, we can raise a generation far less likely to fall prey to the growing gambling culture around them.
And that is a battle worth fighting.
Read More:
Online Sports Gambling Leads to Huge Jump in Bankruptcies, Researchers Find
Young people are ‘gambling with borrowed money’ — and paying the price
Bankruptcy rates increase by 25–30% within a few years of legalized online sports betting
New Statistics Suggest Link Between Gambling, Homelessness
Legalized gambling linked to increased crime, study finds
Gambling and Crime Among Arrestees
Crimen and Problem Gambling: A Research Landscape
This content was composed and finalized by the author.
IFI staff and AI tools were used for proofing and clarity.
