The Hidden Addiction: How Mobile Betting Is Changing the Face of Problem Gambling in Rhode Island

Rhode Island - Gambling addiction has long been called "the hidden addiction” and according to John Cipolla, Director of the Rhode Island Council on Problem Gambling, that description has never been more fitting than it is today.
In a recent Spotlight interview with the Rhode Island Wave, Cipolla shed light on an issue that often goes unnoticed until it's too late. Unlike alcohol or drug addiction, problem gambling leaves no obvious trail.
"A lot of people call it the hidden problem or the hidden addiction," Cipolla explained. "With most addictions—primarily alcohol and drugs—there's usually some signs along the way. Maybe a DUI, coming home stumbling, maybe an arrest. But with gambling, there is none of that. There's no smell to it, no sight to it. There's really no physicality to it."
In fact, gambling can even look glamorous. A trip to the casino often means getting dressed up and stepping out for a night on the town. But behind that polished image, Cipolla says, a quieter crisis is unfolding.
"When things finally come out—when it reveals itself as a problem—there's a trail of destruction behind them," he said. "Spouses, siblings, friends, parents who had no idea. They're blindsided by it because they didn't see it coming."
From the Track to Your Pocket
Cipolla, who has lived experience with gambling himself, has watched the landscape change dramatically over the decades. For most of Rhode Island's history, gambling required real effort.
From 1947, when Lincoln Downs first opened its doors for horse racing, all the way to 2020, there was only one way to legally place a bet in the state: in person. Whether it was buying a lottery scratch ticket at a convenience store or visiting the Lincoln facility—first for horse and dog racing, then video slot machines in 1991, and table games in 2013—a person had to physically get there.
"That's a 70-year span," Cipolla emphasized. "You had to drive, take a bus, walk—whatever it was, you had to get there."
That barrier vanished almost overnight. Since 2020, sports betting has been available on mobile phones, and in the past two years, the Bally Bet app has brought full casino gaming—slots, craps, blackjack, poker, and more—directly to users' devices.
To illustrate just how quickly things have changed, Cipolla pulled out his phone during the interview. Driving to Bally's in Lincoln, he noted, would take roughly 35 minutes each way—close to an hour of effort just to place a single legal bet. By contrast, opening a betting app takes two seconds. With pre-loaded bets, pre-loaded parlays, and saved credit card details, a person can place a wager in as little as six seconds.
"We have a full sports book and a full casino in our back pocket," he said. "It's 24/7, right in the palm of your hand. There's going to be repercussions—and we're already seeing them."
Meeting the Problem Head-On
Rather than fighting against legalized gambling—now the second-largest revenue stream in Rhode Island—Cipolla and the Council are focused on resources, treatment, and education.
"You can rally against it, but I don't do that. The Council doesn't do that," he said. "What we do is make sure we're getting the funding and resources to deal with it, so we can treat people, educate people, and provide programming."
That concern is heightened by age limits. While the iGaming app (Bally Bet) requires users to be 21 or older, casinos and the sports betting app in Rhode Island are open to anyone 18 and up meaning some high school seniors and many college students can legally gamble. As a result, the Council is now working within colleges to promote responsible gambling and demonstrate the tools available on betting apps, including time limits and deposit limits.
Two Simple Questions
For anyone wondering whether their gambling has crossed a line, Cipolla pointed to a quick self-assessment known as the "Lie/Bet" screening:

1. Have you ever lied about your gambling?
2. Have you bet more than you anticipated at the start of a session?

"If you answer yes to either one of those questions, you might be on the precipice of an issue," he said.
He and interviewer Deana also flagged another warning sign: chasing losses. "If you are chasing losses, that's another indicator that you are on your way to a problem," Cipolla said. "You lose some money, you're mad, and your thinking is, 'I can get that back.' It's a vicious cycle that never ends."
A Treatable Condition
The good news, Cipolla stressed, is that problem gambling is highly treatable—and far less physically demanding to recover from than substance addictions.
"This is really a behavioral healthcare issue," he said. "There's no medication, no withdrawal. You just need some counseling, maybe some cognitive behavioral therapy to change your thinking. It's really not a heavy lift—until you let it go too long."
The heaviest burden, he noted, tends to be financial. "Before you get into horrendous financial burden, get the help. Seek resources, get some education. We can intervene, and you can get on the proper road without going through such pain."
The Council also helps connect people to treatment with licensed clinicians and offers a self-exclusion program—developed in collaboration with the Rhode Island Lottery and Bally's—that allows individuals to bar themselves from both the casinos and the betting apps.
Where to Find Help
Cipolla emphasized that there is no shame in asking for help—and that recovery is possible.
If you or someone you know may have a gambling problem, the following resources are available:

• Rhode Island Council on Problem Gambling: ricpg.com
• Problem Gambling Services Program: problemgamblingservices.com (visit the Resources tab for Gamblers Anonymous meeting times in Rhode Island)
• Treatment and assessment helpline: 401-499-2472

"Literally within 24 hours, we'll get you the resources and help you need," Cipolla said.
For the many Rhode Islanders who can gamble responsibly, Cipolla and Dina agreed there's nothing wrong with a fun night out. "Play with what you're okay with losing, and then go home," Dina said. "But if you find yourself dipping into another credit card, way over where you started—that's when it's time to pay attention."
As Cipolla put it, gambling addiction is a public health issue that has gone largely unnoticed for too long. "Hopefully," he said, "we'll change that."


If you are experiencing problems with gambling, call the 24/7 confidential helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET or 1-877-9GAMBLE.
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