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Gambling addiction help seekers are on the rise. Sports betting facilities are now available in 38 States, and wagers have grown correspondingly from $4.9 billion in 2017 to $121 billion in 2023. Also, there has been a 23% increase in gambling addiction-related help searches. Some stakeholders view this as a worrying trend, while others insist that the increased volume of searches is a reflection of the public’s growing awareness rather than an uptick in problem gambling.
Main takeaways:
- Since the legalization of online sports betting, gambling addiction-related online searches have increased by 23%
- A higher increase has been observed in States with mature online sportsbooks, such as Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
- The available data does not conclusively point to an increase in problem gambling rates.
The boom of sports betting
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association signaled a new era in sports betting. In 2017, only Nevada had an operational sportsbook. That number has increased to 38, leading to a national multi-billion-dollar industry. Online sports betting sites are responsible for 94% of the wagers.
As a result, this sports betting market, which was only $4.9 billion in 2017, ballooned to over $121 billion in 2023. Unsurprisingly, much of this growth has been driven by the easy accessibility of online gambling, as more states have legalized mobile wagering, and these numbers have only grown further, with estimated revenues in 2024 reaching nearly $150 biillion.
However, social consequences have been highlighted as a course of concern. A recent study from JAMA Internal Medicine stated, “The results of this time series study suggest that access to sportsbooks, sports wagers, and potential help-seeking for gambling addiction increased substantially.”
Trends in gambling addiction help-seeking
A higher increase in gambling addiction-related searches was noted in states like Pennsylvania(50%), Massachusetts(47%), New York(37%), and New Jersey(34%), where online sportsbooks have launched, alluding to more individuals looking for help or information about responsible gambling. However, some experts are unconvinced and have questioned what the data truly depicts.
Guy Bentley, however, believes otherwise. In his publication for Reason.com, he highlights the fact that problem gambling rates have not followed the same trajectory as related searches in New Jersey. “In 2021, the latest year for which we have data, problem gambling in New Jersey was 5.6%,” Bentley wrote. “But in 2017, before sports betting was legal, New Jersey’s problem gambling rate was 6.3%.”
While there are more searches related to responsible gambling, this discrepancy suggests that it does not necessarily point to an increase in complement addiction rates. Instead, the increase can be attributed to successful responsible gaming campaigns and measures.
Future outlook
As online Sports Betting continues to rise across the United States, many jurisdictions are increasingly focusing on responsible gambling initiatives. Several states have implemented player-help programs like self-exclusion, deposit limits, and awareness campaigns to educate players and prevent potential. Looking forward, we can only assume that these measures will grow stricter as regulators move in to protect vulnerable bettors.
