After US states deregulated sports betting, internet searches for gambling addiction rocketed

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-02-18 03:00

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US scientists say that after 37 US states deregulated gambling to allow online betting and retail gambling in 2018, internet searches related to gambling addiction in those states increased by an average of 23%. The most pronounced increases were in states where online gambling was easily accessible, the authors say, with the biggest rise seen in Pennsylvania (50% increase). The Supreme Court case, Murphy v National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), dismantled the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. Before this, gambling in the US was limited to locations such as tribal lands, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Atlantic City. Since the decision, wagers in the US have increased from $4.9 billion in 2017 to $121.1 billion in 2023. Online 'Sportsbooks' in the US now allow bets to be made during games, such as which player will score next. Australia has banned such bets to reduce wager opportunities, which could provide a model for the US to reduce gambling harms, the authors say. There's a need to address the health implications of sportsbooks, including recognition and treatment of gambling problems and their broader societal implications, they conclude.