Illinois Adds Gambling Disorder to State Substance Abuse Framework
2026-07-31
Source: Focus Gaming News
Illinois has enacted Senate Bill 2749, adding gambling disorder to the state's Substance Use Disorder Act and assigning the Department of Human Services new responsibilities for prevention, treatment, and public awareness. Licensed gambling operators must also display help resources, with state estimates indicating nearly 384,000 adults currently have a gambling problem.
Illinois has formally folded gambling disorder into its addiction treatment system. Governor JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2749, which updates the state's Substance Use Disorder Act to give the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Substance Abuse Prevention and Recovery a clear mandate over gambling-related prevention, treatment, recovery, and support programs.
The new measure also introduces compliance duties for operators. Licensed gambling facilities and master sports wagering licensees will be required to display IDHS-approved information directing people to resources for gambling-related help.
Beyond signage, the law calls for a dedicated hotline and website to provide crisis counseling for families grappling with gambling-related harm. The IDHS will additionally counsel the Social Services Advisory Council on measures to curb underage gambling and will lead public awareness campaigns on the broader impact of gambling disorders across individuals, families, and communities.
State figures underscore the scale of the issue: an estimated 383,000 Illinois adults—roughly 3.8% of the adult population—currently struggle with a gambling problem, while another 761,000 people (7.7%) are considered at risk of developing one.