Recently, Arkansas welcomed FanDuel and DraftKings, two of America’s largest betting companies, which launched operations locally last week, in time for the March Madness basketball tournament.
However, the expansion of sports gambling in the state comes with one major caveat – as interest in betting soars, so do callers to the Arkansas problem gambling helpline increase as well.
Arkansas Faces Surge in Calls to Problem Gambling Line
According to the Arkansas Problem Gambling Council’s executive director, Vena Schexnayder, there has been a noticeable uptick in the number of callers seeking help.
In 2025 alone, there were 7,000 helpline calls from the state, she explained, with more than 2,100 of those calls coming between January and March, when some of the largest sports events in the nation take place.
Schexnayder raised an issue with events such as the March Madness competition, flagging it as a trigger for people who are struggling with gambling-related harm, and explaining that many people face issues managing their behavior around the time that such events take place.
What problems there were before, Schexnayder argues, have been exacerbated because players now have the opportunity to play directly from their smartphones, comparing mobile sports gambling to “portable casinos.”
There is no longer the need to travel to a physical distance, she said, which has led to more people taking up sports gambling and becoming addicted.
March Madness is one of the most bet events in the country, with the American Gaming Association expecting the legal wagers placed on the event to reach $3.3 billion, ahead of last year’s projections.
Giving warnings around the time of major sports competitions has been what the National Council on Problem Gambling and local offshoots have focused on doing.
In February, the Virginia branch warned consumers over excessive gambling behavior during the Super Bowl, as have all local organizations across the United States.
