Gambling addiction cases rise in Illinois

CHICAGO (WLS) -- ABC7's "Weekend Watch" shines a spotlight on government activity.

Since Illinois legalized riverboat casinos in 1990, gambling has skyrocketed statewide, and so have the problems tied to it.

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Last year, Illinoisans lost more than $7.7 billion on the lottery, slot machines, casinos, and sports betting.

That's nearly double what they lost in 2019, after Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a major expansion of casinos and legalized sports wagering.

While the state has seen a boost in tax revenue, it comes at a cost.

An estimated 1 million Illinois residents are either compulsive gamblers or at risk of becoming one.

Yet, the state spends less than 0.1% of its gambling revenue on treating the addiction it causes.

Nationally, problem gamblers have one of the highest rates of suicide and depression, which often leads to gambling-related crimes.

Casey Toner from the Illinois Answers project joined ABC7 to discuss on Saturday morning.

This story is part of a collaboration between Illinois Answers and Capitol News Illinois. Click here for more.