Probability of Problem Gambling Among Sports Bettors

Since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting in 2018, legal sports betting has expanded to 38 states plus DC. About 50 million Americans (about 19% of adults) bet on sports in 2023, with total handle (amount wagered) exceeding $120 billion. Among active sports bettors, approximately 6% develop problem gambling behaviors.

Problem sports gambling is characterized by chasing losses, betting more than intended, lying about gambling activity, borrowing money to gamble, and gambling causing relationship or financial problems. Risk factors include being male (men make up about 75% of sports bettors), younger age (18-34), prior gambling experience, mental health issues, and heavy exposure to gambling advertising.

The expansion of mobile sports betting has raised particular concerns: the ease and speed of placing bets from a phone, aggressive promotional offers, and constant exposure through media partnerships create a more accessible and potentially more addictive environment than traditional gambling. The National Council on Problem Gambling has reported a significant increase in calls to helplines in states that have legalized sports betting. Self-exclusion programs, deposit limits, and cooling-off periods are available on most platforms.