One out of four households in Nevada are affected by a gambling problem in some way — and with the rise of mobile gaming and sports betting, Nevada casinos have been marketing to younger and younger audiences. In this exclusive interview, Ted Hartwell, executive director of the Nevada Council of Problem Gambling, dives into the biochemistry of gambling disorders and the psychology behind why some casino machines are so addicting, in the same way that fast food restaurants use color psychology to get people hungry and enticed to eat their food. This all begs the question, should gambling advertising today receive the same scrutiny as cigarette advertising?
Clayton Posey is a student from the Reynolds School of Journalism. He completed this story during his science reporting class during spring 2024.
