18 Feb Legalized Sportsbooks Linked to Rapid Rise in Gambling Addiction

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Atharva Yeola, B.S.
The Qualcomm Institute at UC San Diego

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: We initiated this study because, in the wake of the 2018 Murphy v. NCAA decision, sportsbooks began to proliferate at an unprecedented pace—expanding from a single state in 2017 to 38 states by early 2024.

Accompanying that surge, the total amount bet on sports skyrocketed from $4.9 billion in 2017 to $121.1 billion in 2023, with 94% of wagers during 2023 occurring online. However, public health discussions lagged behind this explosive growth. We wanted to gauge whether this rapid adoption of sports betting, especially via easily accessible online platforms, was associated with increases in problem gambling and gambling addiction.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings? 

Growth in Sports Betting: Since the 2018 Supreme Court decision in Murphy v. NCAA, which allowed states to legalize sports betting, the industry has expanded dramatically. By 2024, sportsbooks were operational in 38 states, with total wagers skyrocketing from $4.9 billion in 2017 to $121.1 billion in 2023. Notably, 94% of bets in 2023 were placed online, underscoring the dominance of digital platforms. This rapid growth has normalized sports betting, turning it into a mainstream activity.

Rise in Gambling Addiction Help-Seeking: Parallel to the expansion of sports betting, there has been a significant increase in gambling addiction-related internet searches, rising by 23% nationally since Murphy v. NCAA. This equates to approximately 6.5 to 7.3 million searches through June 2024, peaking at 180,000 monthly searches. States that launched sportsbooks experienced notable spikes in help-seeking searches—Ohio (67%), Pennsylvania (50%), and Massachusetts (47%) among them.

The introduction of online sportsbooks had an even greater impact compared to retail locations; for example, in Pennsylvania, searches increased by 33% after retail sportsbooks opened but surged by 61% following the launch of online sportsbooks, with sustained effects over years. This underscores the heightened risks associated with the accessibility and convenience of online gambling platforms.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: We hope readers recognize that legalized sports betting is more than just an entertainment trend. It poses real public health concerns—ones that have grown faster than our ability to understand or manage them. The unprecedented accessibility of online betting is making gambling a permanent fixture in daily life, and we are already seeing the consequences through rising demand for help with gambling addiction.

Ultimately, we want everyone, from policymakers to healthcare professionals to the general public, to see this as a wake-up call to implement targeted safeguards and to increase support systems for those who are vulnerable.

Citation:

Yeola A, Allen MR, Desai N, et al. Growing Health Concern Regarding Gambling Addiction in the Age of Sportsbooks. JAMA Intern Med. Published online February 17, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.8193

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Last Updated on February 18, 2025 by Marie Benz MD FAAD

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