PODCAST:
March 19, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick, Lloyd Jackson, and Jamie Edmonds discuss problem gambling with Karley Abramson, a research associate at the Citizens Research Council of Michigan. They consider policy changes to address increased gambling issues.
MICHIGAN ~ A Michigan policy group is raising concerns over the state’s policies on online sports gambling, due to the ease of accessibility of these gambling platforms.
Online gambling was officially rolled out in the state in 2021, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer looking to increase gambling taxes to raise a little under $200 million for the fiscal year 2027. However, the Citizens Research Council of Michigan is concerned about how these platforms could increase gambling addiction.
Karley Abramson, a research associate at the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, told WJR that since the legalization of online sports betting in Michigan, problematic gambling behaviors have increased by about 30%.
“It’s different than really any other vice or entertainment product that we have access to,” she said. “You pick up your phone, and you can place bets on virtually anything. The number of bets you can place is unlimited. There are different policy measures that can be done just to try to put a few more roadblocks in place for the people who are the most vulnerable.“
