As Virginia lawmakers debate whether to legalize online casino gambling, addiction experts and former policymakers warn the proposal could dramatically expand access to some of the most addictive forms of gambling.
Unlike traditional casinos that require people to travel to a physical location, online casinos are available on smartphones and tablets at any hour. Critics say that constant accessibility removes the natural barriers that once limited gambling behavior.
“Online gaming is engineered to be addictive,” said former Massachusetts State Representative David Nangle, who has spoken publicly about his own experience with gambling addiction. “It uses the same psychological hooks as media and video games, but with one critical difference. The losses are financial, immediate and often catastrophic. Not just for the gambler, but for families who often find out when it’s too late.”
Nangle said the speed and accessibility of online casinos make them especially dangerous for people already vulnerable to addiction.
“When gambling moves from a place you have to go to something that lives on your phone, the barriers disappear,” Nangle said. “That kind of access makes it much harder for people struggling with addiction to step away.”
Online casino gambling remains illegal in 42 states. Researchers say the states that have legalized it are already seeing higher rates of gambling addiction and greater demand for treatment services.
Brianne Doura-Schawohl, founder of Doura-Schawohl Consulting, LLC, said online gambling products are fundamentally different from traditional casino gambling.
“Online casinos follow people home,” Doura-Schawohl said. “They are always available, always within reach and designed to keep people playing.”
Research suggests online gambling products carry particularly high addiction risks. Some studies indicate online casino games can be significantly more addictive than other forms of betting, especially among younger users.
In Virginia, calls to the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling helpline have already increased by more than 1,200 percent over the past five years. Critics warn that expanding online casinos could accelerate that trend.
Supporters of legalization often point to potential tax revenue. But critics say the economic case is far less clear than proponents suggest. A recent study examining states that have legalized online casinos found that iGaming revenue often cannibalizes existing brick-and-mortar gaming rather than generating entirely new revenue, while also raising significant addiction concerns.
Critics also note that national gambling interests have spent more than $3.4 million in support of gambling expansion efforts in Virginia, underscoring the scale of the push to bring online casinos to the state.
Supporters of legalization often frame online casinos as a simple revenue opportunity. But Virginia Lottery officials have warned that online casinos could reduce lottery profits by as much as $600 million over five years. Because lottery proceeds account for roughly 10 percent of Virginia’s K-12 public education funding, that loss could translate into about $90 million less each year for schools.
For Doura-Schawohl, the debate ultimately comes down to the human consequences of expanding gambling access.
“Problem gambling doesn’t just affect the individual,” she said. “It impacts families, workplaces, and communities. When gambling moves onto every smartphone, the risks grow with it.”
As lawmakers consider the proposal, critics say the decision will determine whether Virginia expands gambling further into everyday life or maintains limits designed to protect residents from its harms.
To learn more, visit naaig.org.
