Online betting and gambling are skyrocketing in Florida. Jacob, a 26-year-old, is one of many people fighting this addiction. In just a few years, he lost thousands of dollars. It’s cost him more than money; it’s put a strain on real-life relationships.”There’s definitely some relationships that had their tough points that I think I’ve tried to grow back and talk to those people and reassure them that that’s in the past now,” Jacob said. Jacob said his gambling addiction began in late 2021 when he started using online betting websites. “I started doing that four years ago. Maybe it was five at this point, end of 2021, and just was immediately hooked once I started getting on that website,” he said. Initially, Jacob used unregulated websites recommended by friends, but he later expanded to popular platforms such as Hard Rock Bets, Kalshi, and Polymarket. He described how easy it was to place bets, saying, “It’s as simple as sending a text message to bet on almost anything.” Jacob developed a detailed system to track his wins and losses. “There’s some weeks that I’d win a couple thousand, there’s some weeks that I could lose a few thousand. You just, you just never know,” he said. “And there’s different things on there, from sports betting to casino games, whether it’s slots, Blackjack, Roulette, just honestly, anything that you could play on your phone that you would normally see in a casino setting.” Jacob’s story reflects a growing trend among young people, particularly men, who are increasingly gambling online and losing significant amounts of money. According to the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, men accounted for 97% of those seeking help for online sports gambling addiction. The number of people seeking help has risen from 240 to 803, with more than half between the ages of 18 and 30. Dr. Kenny Tello, a behavioral and mental health doctor with Orlando Health, explained why young people are particularly vulnerable to gambling addiction. “It’s made it so much easier now, because back, maybe even 10 years ago, to gamble, you had to go to a casino. Nowadays, it’s in your phone. It’s in your pocket, and contrary to what a lot of individuals assume, most of the apps don’t even look like gambling,” Tello said. He added, “Typically, 18 to about 26, our brains are still developing. And so we are driven a lot by dopamine, which is the feel-good hormone. And then that feels good to the brain.” Jacob initially focused on sports betting, as he has been a lifelong sports fan. However, as losses mounted, he began betting on unfamiliar games, including table tennis. “I would be up at three in the morning knowing I had work the next day. I would go to work, and I would be checking on that bet,” he said. Jacob admitted he knew little about some of the games he bet on. “You’re just at that point, you’re watching numbers on a screen next to a guy’s name, hoping that they win that set, and then move on to the next one,” he said. The addiction also strained his relationships. “It was bad. There was, I think, one of the worst things that I’ve ever experienced is the shame of asking my friends if I could borrow money and them not knowing what it was for,” Jacob said. Jacob said his gambling consumed his thoughts daily until November, when he decided to take control. “Up until a couple of months ago, this was an everyday, every moment of the day thing that I was thinking about. And then in November, I finally decided that this was way out of control,” he said. Now, a few months into recovery, Jacob has deleted all gambling apps and is working to rebuild trust with his friends and family. He said he hopes his story will help others facing similar struggles. Jacob remains a sports fan but said enjoying a game has become challenging due to advertisements for betting apps. “Betting apps are spending big bucks to put their product in front of you,” he said, adding that he is constantly reminded of how easy it is to place another bet.
Online betting and gambling are skyrocketing in Florida.
Jacob, a 26-year-old, is one of many people fighting this addiction.
In just a few years, he lost thousands of dollars. It’s cost him more than money; it’s put a strain on real-life relationships.
“There’s definitely some relationships that had their tough points that I think I’ve tried to grow back and talk to those people and reassure them that that’s in the past now,” Jacob said.
Jacob said his gambling addiction began in late 2021 when he started using online betting websites.
“I started doing that four years ago. Maybe it was five at this point, end of 2021, and just was immediately hooked once I started getting on that website,” he said.
Initially, Jacob used unregulated websites recommended by friends, but he later expanded to popular platforms such as Hard Rock Bets, Kalshi, and Polymarket.
He described how easy it was to place bets, saying, “It’s as simple as sending a text message to bet on almost anything.”
Jacob developed a detailed system to track his wins and losses.
“There’s some weeks that I’d win a couple thousand, there’s some weeks that I could lose a few thousand. You just, you just never know,” he said. “And there’s different things on there, from sports betting to casino games, whether it’s slots, Blackjack, Roulette, just honestly, anything that you could play on your phone that you would normally see in a casino setting.”
Jacob’s story reflects a growing trend among young people, particularly men, who are increasingly gambling online and losing significant amounts of money. According to the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, men accounted for 97% of those seeking help for online sports gambling addiction. The number of people seeking help has risen from 240 to 803, with more than half between the ages of 18 and 30.
Dr. Kenny Tello, a behavioral and mental health doctor with Orlando Health, explained why young people are particularly vulnerable to gambling addiction.
“It’s made it so much easier now, because back, maybe even 10 years ago, to gamble, you had to go to a casino. Nowadays, it’s in your phone. It’s in your pocket, and contrary to what a lot of individuals assume, most of the apps don’t even look like gambling,” Tello said.
He added, “Typically, 18 to about 26, our brains are still developing. And so we are driven a lot by dopamine, which is the feel-good hormone. And then that feels good to the brain.”
Jacob initially focused on sports betting, as he has been a lifelong sports fan. However, as losses mounted, he began betting on unfamiliar games, including table tennis.
“I would be up at three in the morning knowing I had work the next day. I would go to work, and I would be checking on that bet,” he said.
Jacob admitted he knew little about some of the games he bet on.
“You’re just at that point, you’re watching numbers on a screen next to a guy’s name, hoping that they win that set, and then move on to the next one,” he said.
The addiction also strained his relationships.
“It was bad. There was, I think, one of the worst things that I’ve ever experienced is the shame of asking my friends if I could borrow money and them not knowing what it was for,” Jacob said.
Jacob said his gambling consumed his thoughts daily until November, when he decided to take control.
“Up until a couple of months ago, this was an everyday, every moment of the day thing that I was thinking about. And then in November, I finally decided that this was way out of control,” he said.
Now, a few months into recovery, Jacob has deleted all gambling apps and is working to rebuild trust with his friends and family. He said he hopes his story will help others facing similar struggles.
Jacob remains a sports fan but said enjoying a game has become challenging due to advertisements for betting apps.
“Betting apps are spending big bucks to put their product in front of you,” he said, adding that he is constantly reminded of how easy it is to place another bet.