Rep. José Aponte Hernández, former speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, has warned that increasing gambling offerings in the island will exacerbate the increasing rates of gambling addiction. According to 2014 data, there are over 55,000 citizens in Puerto Rico with gambling addictions, representing 0.87 percent of the population. Hernändez argues that expanding the gambling industry will have a catastrophic impact on the healthcare system, as the number of gambling addicts will likely exceed 100,000. The National Council on Gambling Addiction in the United States projects that by 2025, the cost of treating these individuals will reach $14 billion.