Since the legalization of sports betting in the United States, online searches for gambling addiction treatment have surged. This growth highlights the increasing need for public health awareness and support systems to address the issue, according to a recent study.
The sports betting industry has grown rapidly since the 2018 Supreme Court decision that allowed states to legalize gambling. Once limited to Nevada, it is now legal in 38 states and Washington, D.C. In 2025, Americans planned to wager $1.4 billion on the Super Bowl, up from $1.25 billion in 2024, according to the American Gaming Association.
As the sector expands, the concerns about the negative impact of this are becoming more pronounced.
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that Google searches related to this addiction have significantly increased. Researchers at UC San Diego and Bryn Mawr College analyzed searches such as “gambling addiction hotline” and “am I a gambling addict?” Since the Supreme Court ruling, searches have increased by 23% nationally, with a peak of 180,000 monthly searches in June 2023.
In states like Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, gambling-related searches were substantially higher than expected.
Researchers are raising alarms about the health risks associated with sports betting, particularly in sportsbooks and other online platforms. Matthew Allen, a co-author of the study, emphasized that the normalization of sports betting, spurred by advertising and rebranding by major casino operators, has exacerbated the issue.
According to the study, public health professionals must act swiftly to treat this addiction before it escalates into a larger crisis.
To address the growing concern, Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Andrea Salinas have introduced legislation aimed at supporting the study, prevention, and treatment of this addiction. Under this bill, the government will allocate 50% of federal sports excise tax revenue to these initiatives. The National Council on Problem Gambling, a leading advocacy organization, supports the measure.
Blumenthal has called the development of sports betting a “severe public health crisis,” especially considering how easy it is for people to place bets via smartphones.
Experts argue that a new, comprehensive regulatory strategy is needed to combat the rising issue of this addiction. Collaboration between legislators and public health organizations is crucial to preventing the long-term effects of this addiction.
As sports betting becomes a multibillion-dollar industry, more attention needs to be focused on protecting individuals from the negative effects of this. Stronger regulations and prevention programs are necessary to ensure that the expansion of legal sports betting does not come at the expense of public health.
Source: NBC News
