A Michigan woman warned about the dangers of online gambling after she lost $2 million in six months.
The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, says she lost her home, business, vehicles, and retirement savings, having started gambling at Michigan online casinos when the state legalized these platforms in 2021.
Key takeaways
- The former company owner lost $2 million playing mobile blackjack in Michigan.
- While describing her experience anonymously, the woman claimed casinos encouraged her with thousands in bonuses.
- The account comes as Ohio lawmakers are currently discussing legalizing online gambling.
Speaking to ABC affiliate WEWS, she said she bet $1,000 per hand on blackjack and won $25,000 her first day, but soon she began to lose heavily. She said two of the casinos actively pressed her to continue gambling by sending her large bonuses.
“But two kept feeding me thousands of dollars every week to keep me going. If I missed days, they would send me money - thousands of dollars,” she said.
Her addiction continued until her husband confronted her about the missing money. She said she was sharing her story, hoping to stop others from following the same path.
The story made the news at a time when Ohio lawmakers are debating two bills: House Bill 298 and Senate Bill 197, which would legalize online gambling. Supporters say they could produce hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.
Still, opponents point to the dangers easily accessible gambling pose and the costs for those who become addicted.
Ohio faith leaders oppose online gambling legalization
Some of the strongest opposition to legal online gambling in Ohio is from faith leaders. Over 100 churches in the state signed a letter opposing legalization, which warns about the danger of fueling addiction and causing harm to communities and families.
Opponents also raised constitutional concerns. While Ohio allows lotteries and physical casinos, some experts say online gambling legalization could require a new constitutional change, or at the very least, a protracted legal battle.
Ohio lawmakers are discussing bills that envisage a licensing cost of around $50 million per operator and a potential March 2026 launch date.
Ohio gambling revenue surges in May
Meanwhile, as the debate over online gambling rages, Ohio’s existing gambling industry continues to perform strongly, with Ohio sportsbooks and retail casinos showing year-over-year growth in May.
Ohio books brought in $88.8 million in taxable revenue, a 31.7% increase from May 2024. Online sports betting contributed $727.1 million in wagers compared to $14.1 million at retail sportsbooks, while Ohio’s four commercial land-based casinos generated $91.6 million in May, an 8.4% rise from last May.
