Growth of Online Gambling in Florida and Rising Scams
Over the past three years, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has received more than 10,000 complaints related to online gambling across the United States.
Personal Impact of Gambling Addiction
Trey Killian has witnessed family members struggle with gambling addiction, which is why he refuses to place bets. He shared,
“One of them would get that Friday paycheck, go have a couple drinks and be like, ‘I'm going to put it all on red.’ I’ve just seen too many heartaches over it.”
Confusion and Risks in Online Gambling
In today’s market, the concern extends beyond responsible gambling to include what games users play and where they place their bets. Bryan Oglesby of the Better Business Bureau explained to Gulf Coast News:
“Online gaming and sports betting is blowing up. There are different rules in different states, so people are confused. And scammers are taking advantage of that confusion.”
Study on Online Gambling Scams
The BBB conducted a recent study targeting unlicensed and unverified online casinos and sportsbooks. Online gambling’s popularity has surged, now valued at more than $100 billion according to estimates. Complaints and scam reports have also increased significantly.
- From 2022 to mid-2025, the BBB logged over 10,000 complaints related to online gambling.
- Nearly 200 scam reports were filed in the same period.
Legitimacy Concerns
While licensed brick-and-mortar casinos generally guarantee payouts, the online gambling sphere lacks consistent reliability. Oglesby warned:
“They're going to create websites that look real.”
This highlights the risks users face when engaging with unknown or unverified online gambling platforms.
Author’s Summary
The rapid expansion of online gambling in Florida brings increasing confusion and exposes users to scams, underscoring the need for caution and awareness.