Online searches for gambling addiction have risen significantly as more states legalize sports betting, according to a study released on Monday.
With states like Hawaii considering making gambling legal, experts are saying that raising public health awareness is more vital than ever.
Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, and Bryn Mawr College published an investigation on the JAMA Internal Medicine site on February 17, 2025. The study questioned how the rising popularity of Sportsbooks has caused growing health concerns over gambling addiction.
It said: “In this time series study of US states with legalized sports betting, it was found that sportsbooks (physical or online places where individuals can place wagers on the outcomes of sporting events) have expanded from a single state to 38 states, with wagers increasing from $4.9 billion in 2017 to $121.1 billion in 2023.
“Pre/post analyses revealed substantial national increases in online searches for gambling addiction after Murphy v National Collegiate Athletic Association, with pronounced increases in states that introduced online sportsbooks.
“These findings emphasize the need for public health efforts to study and address the potential harms associated with the rapid growth of sports betting.”
The 2018 Supreme Court ruling on Murphy v National Collegiate Athletic Association case ended Nevada’s sports betting monopoly, expanding its legality and influence nationwide. The study highlights how one nail drove out another, fueling industry growth while increasing the risk of gambling addiction among Americans.
The rise of sports betting and addiction searches
Currently, 38 states and Washington D.C. permit legal gambling operations, while a few, like Minnesota, still enforce bans. These states turn to gambling as a sustainable source of revenue, generating millions in taxes annually.
This year’s Super Bowl LIX was estimated to have received $1.4 billion in bets from Americans. Gambling has grown increasingly popular, and as a result, online searches for gambling addiction have spiked over the past four years.
The study extrapolated how many out of 10 million online queries mentioned terms such as “gambling’ and “addiction” between January 1, 2016, through June 30, 2024.
It found a 23% increase in searches after the Murphy v National Collegiate Athletic Association case. Nearly 6.5 – 7.3 million searches were related to gambling addiction, many of which sought support or remedies.
Locations such as Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania saw surges in the number of searches shortly after a sportsbook had opened within the state. The study also concluded that online sportsbook openings contributed to a larger increase in searches compared to retail.
The study said: “The results of this time series study suggest that access to sportsbooks, sports wagers, and potential help-seeking for gambling addiction increased substantially and highlight the need to address the health implications of sportsbooks, including recognition and treatment of gambling problems and their broader societal implications.”
In other news, explore sports betting statistics in the United States in 2025.
Featured image: Aidan Howe / Unsplash
