Study Reveals Surge in Gambling Addiction Across the US
Research in the United States has found a sharp increase in gambling addiction since the federal regulation of online sports betting in 2018. As a result, researchers call for stricter measures to prevent further harm.
The results have been presented by researchers from the University of California San Diego in their study Growing Health Concern Regarding Gambling Addiction in the Age of Sportsbooks. The study indicates that there has been a significant increase in the number of people suffering from gambling addiction across several US states.
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Online Sports Betting Regulated in 38 States
In 2018, the United States Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling in the case of Murphy v NCAA, enabling US states to set their own legislation regarding sports betting instead of needing to comply with federal laws. Following that ruling, the number of states where sports betting is legal has grown to 38.
Lead researcher John Ayers, commented:
“Shortly after the Supreme Court allowed sports betting, health experts paid limited attention to it. Now the industry has expanded from one state to 38, generating hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue – mainly online. At the same time, millions of people are seeking help for their gambling problems.”
John Ayers, Lead Researcher
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25% Rise in Gambling Addictions
When legal sports betting was limited to Nevada — home to the gambling capital, Las Vegas — the total amount wagered was just $4.9 billion. Six years later, that figure had soared past $120 billion, with the vast majority bet through online bookmakers.
To gain further insight into gambling addiction in the United States, the study examined various Google search queries. Researchers analysed terms such as “gambling addiction”, “helpline” and “anonymous” over the period from 2016 to 2024. According to the researchers, the number of searches for help with gambling addiction increased by nearly a quarter, from approximately 6.5 to 7.3 million searches.
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Call For Stricter Legalisation
The increases were particularly notable in states where sports betting had been legalised – including Pennsylvania (50%), Massachusetts (47%) and Ohio (67%). According to researcher Atharva Yeola, the study finds a significant relation between the legalisation of sports betting and the rise of queries related to gambling addictions. Yeola states that the chance of random rise is one in 25.6 billion.
In the report, the researchers call for stricter legislation regarding sports betting. They call for addiction treatment funding to come directly from tax revenues generated by online gambling. In addition, the research team recommends stricter advertising rules and better training for healthcare professionals to help identify and treat gambling addiction.
Ayers states that American politicians need to act swiftly:
“The legislation is lagging behind because it was the Supreme Court, not the politicians, that legalised sports betting. We have already seen that unregulated industries – such as tobacco and strong painkillers – caused severe harm before any action was taken. We must take measures now, or we will pay the price later.”
John Ayers, Lead Researcher
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