A new gambling survey in Arizona has identified rising gambling frequency alongside gaps in screening, self-exclusion awareness and access to information about treatment. The study found that 84% of Arizona adults gambled during 2025, while nearly one in five showed moderate to high risk for gambling-related harm and about 4% potentially met the criteria for a gambling disorder.
The survey covered 1,047 Arizona residents and serves as a three-year follow-up to research conducted in 2023. Problem Gambling Solutions conducted the study for the Arizona Department of Gaming’s Division of Problem Gambling (ADPG).
Healthcare Screening Remains Limited
Weekly gambling or more often rose from 25% to 30%, representing a 22% increase from the 2023 findings. Sports wagering and cryptocurrency-related activity also increased, by 22% and 21%, respectively. Online or app-based sports wagering reached 22% of respondents.
The survey found a significant gap in healthcare screening. Only 7.6% said healthcare providers had asked them about gambling. By comparison, 47.2% reported questions about alcohol or substance use, while 55.4% had been asked about mental health.
“Arizonans far and wide are reporting that they’re not being asked,” said ADPG public information officer Suzanne Trainor. “We definitely see this report as something that we can use and leverage, and talk to our stakeholders, the public and the medical community about changing that.”
The report recommends integrating gambling screening into healthcare and behavioral health settings, particularly because problem gambling can occur alongside other behavioral health issues.
Self-Exclusion Awareness Needs Improvement
Awareness of voluntary self-exclusion programs remains limited. Only 19% of respondents knew about casino self-exclusion programs, while 15% were aware of sportsbook programs. Both figures remained comparable with the 2023 survey.
“A lot of Arizonans don’t know that they can self-exclude from gambling. It’s a really good first step if they’re having problems with their play.”
Awareness of problem gambling services also showed room for improvement. Just 45.1% said they would know how to find help for someone with a gambling problem. Fewer said local treatment services were available or that treatment was effective. The three measures declined slightly from 2023, although only the change in knowing how to obtain help was statistically significant.
The survey did record stronger awareness of Arizona’s 1-800-NEXT-STEP problem gambling helpline, which increased 40% from the previous result.
“That was a really great sign that some of our advertising and outreach is paying really good dividends,” Trainor said.
Report Outlines Policy Priorities
The findings recommend continued investment in prevention, treatment and recovery, stronger outreach to higher-risk groups, expanded public education, improved self-exclusion measures and a public-health approach to gambling harm.
“Grounded in the experiences of Arizonans, this report identifies practical opportunities to advance the Division of Problem Gambling’s work, including continued investment in public education and awareness. We look forward to seeing these data-driven insights inform prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts for years to come.”
The Arizona Department of Gaming recently secured a 20% increase in expenditure authority for problem gambling, giving the division additional resources for prevention, treatment and recovery efforts. ADG also launched a training program for responsible gambling in April.
Source:
“Arizona Department of Gaming Identifies Opportunities to Address Gambling-Related Harm”, gamblinginsider.com, July 31, 2026
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