As millions of fans gear up for the NCAA Final Four, the NFL Draft and the start of the Major League Baseball season, problem gambling experts are urging people in the US state of Ohio to use caution.
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The latest data shows the rate of problem gambling in Ohio has surged from 0.4 per cent in 2012 to 2.8 per cent in 2022 - before the legalisation of sports betting in the state.
That 2.8 per cent is equivalent to approximately 255,000 adult Ohioans, roughly the population of Toledo.
"While the most recent statewide data we have is from 2022, we already saw problem gambling rates increase sevenfold over the previous decade," said Derek Longmeier, executive director of Problem Gambling Network of Ohio.
"Because this data is only collected every five years, it doesn't yet capture the full impact of mobile sports betting and newer platforms. The problem is growing exponentially and that's particularly concerning as we head into a packed sports calendar."