Illinois expands gambling disorder treatment under addiction law

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed Senate Bill 2749 into law, expanding the state’s Substance Use Disorder Act to include gambling disorder prevention, treatment, education, and recovery services.

The law recognises gambling disorder as a public health issue and aligns its treatment with substance use disorders through a coordinated government approach to prevention and recovery.

Under the legislation, Illinois will expand its addiction framework to cover gambling-related planning, prevention, treatment, research, recovery support, and education. It also calls for closer collaboration amongst government agencies, healthcare providers, educators, and community organisations.

The law acknowledges that gambling disorder affects individuals, families, workplaces, and communities, with recovery support extending beyond clinical treatment to include education, crisis intervention, referrals, and long-term assistance.

The measure’s sponsor, Sen. Julie Morrison, said recognising gambling disorder under state law would make it easier for Illinois to provide resources for people struggling with gambling addiction.

“We see people who have alcohol dependencies, people who have drug addictions. I think we recognize those as disorders, and it’s in statute, and we are providing different granting mechanisms, different ways to help those people across the state,” Morrison said.

“We haven’t done that with gambling, and that’s what this bill is about. It’s just recognizing the fact this is also another addiction disorder, and those people also need the help.”

The bill received broad bipartisan support, passing unanimously in the Senate and with only 11 Republican representatives voting against it in the House this spring.

Senate Bill 2749 also gives the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) responsibility for coordinating a statewide strategy covering prevention, intervention, treatment, and rehabilitation. The department will work with federal and state agencies, local governments, healthcare providers, non-profits, and treatment professionals to establish consistent treatment standards and expand evidence-based services.

As part of the initiative, IDHS will work with the Illinois State Board of Education to develop prevention programmes and classroom resources aimed at educating students about gambling risks, probability, financial decision-making, and addiction. The legislation also encourages training for teachers and counsellors to identify warning signs of gambling-related harm.

The measure further expands crisis intervention services by requiring greater awareness of gambling-related mental health risks, including suicidal ideation, and promotes training for healthcare professionals, counsellors, teachers, and social workers to recognise gambling disorders.

Licensed gambling operators, including casinos, sportsbooks, and mobile betting platforms, will be required to prominently display treatment information issued by IDHS. The legislation also calls for stronger customer screening, public education, professional training, and improved access to rehabilitation services.

The law broadens the definition of gambling to include bets on uncertain events regardless of whether they are licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board, recognising participation in offshore gambling websites and other unregulated online platforms. It also comes as the state continues to pursue prediction market operators amid broader discussions over the regulation of such markets.