Study says, gambling disorder spikes in state where sports betting is legalized

[STT]

I dont think sports betting per say is at fault only that it may be the most popular and wide spread type of betting.  The reason why sports betting is popular is because sports are popular, alot of people think pushing coins into slots is the most boring thing they can think of.

    If the base product has nothing enticing to it then the gambling itself starts off with a negative feedback loop to it where as sports has the oppisite effect, people from the time their toddlers are encouraged into sports for good reason that exercise is good for you etc.   I can see that raising gambling via sports or any popular involvement will just by statistical average raise the instances of bad gambling or addiction and some people are more vulnerable and should avoiding gambling just like any kind of addiction its possible, those people should be helped no doubt.

[moneystery]

This is understandable, as sports betting has been so restricted in that country, and now it's legalized, which encourages more people to place bets and hope to win. Furthermore, with more sports fans in a country, this leads to more people becoming bettors, and if not properly regulated, this can leave many vulnerable to gambling problems.
In this regard, government regulation is crucial because it can serve as a guideline to prevent the broader negative impacts of gambling, such as age restrictions, advertising controls, promotional restrictions, etc. With strict regulation, the government can prevent more people from being exposed to the risk of gambling problems.

[Sandra_hakeem]

So what does the research say, is sports betting more harmful than casino games like slots?

...But the there's no part of that info. that mentioned anything about casino games/slots, let alone compare the damages from both, or am I missing something??

I get that sports betting people are more confident because they believe in their skills, so they tend to put bigger money on it. Compared to slots, some people only use it as a pastime and they do not really bet big.

Are you joking right now? The best you can go with sports betting is wager on games for each day--- for off days where there's no game on major leagues, you can decide to take a break. The casinos are resetting 24hrs, 7days a week; even if you'd want to take a break, the next round would often look more appealing--- like your win is about to go by if you ignore. That keeps you in a repeated cycle, drains your wallet and spikes a hormone that keeps you attached, slowly but permanent.

I'm not trying to say the former does no harm, but you made this about their similarities, remember?

[Cantsay]

So what does that mean? Are they saying that if the government allows gambling, it will result in more addiction compared to not legalizing it at all?

I feel like the government legalising it gives off the impression that they don't see anything wrong in gambling, even if the person involved isn't gambling appropriately.

Once it is legalised, or once the government says anything about it, those who used to have a second thought about gambling might no longer think of the risks and simply hop on it without evaluating the risks.

[SUPERSAIAN]

It's possible that when gambling is legalized, people will show more interest, and perhaps this interest will be temporary, who knows? Something becomes attractive after a ban is lifted, and then that interest can slowly decrease, even if it's gambling. There's not much difference between sports betting and slots in the sense that someone addicted to sports betting can constantly invest their money and play, because there are always opportunities to bet.

[Onyeeze]

It's possible that when gambling is legalized, people will show more interest, and perhaps this interest will be temporary, who knows? Something becomes attractive after a ban is lifted, and then that interest can slowly decrease, even if it's gambling. There's not much difference between sports betting and slots in the sense that someone addicted to sports betting can constantly invest their money and play, because there are always opportunities to bet.

but people actually more interesting grumbling and I believe that gambling is legalized in so many country that makes many people to involve in gambling is not legalized why gambling platforms is operating with license, this is what we are supposed to ask and also know because I've been seeing many people saying that gambling is not to legalized why does some of the gambling platform pay tax if they are not legalized, we should be second that some of the countries is yet to legalize gambling but some has already legalized gambling by not disturbing a gambling company to operate and also buy gambling platforms paying tax to the country's government

[PX-Z]

...
So what does the research say, is sports betting more harmful than casino games like slots?

I get that sports betting people are more confident because they believe in their skills, so they tend to put bigger money on it. Compared to slots, some people only use it as a pastime and they do not really bet big.

So what does that mean? Are they saying that if the government allows gambling, it will result in more addiction compared to not legalizing it at all?

Slots are still more addictive than sports betting, regardless of the bet size, especially when betting is done moderately. In sports betting, results take time, so there's a waiting period before you know the outcome.

With slots, the excitement is instant. Even if you're only betting cents per spin, those small bets quickly add up. In just a minute, it can already reach 10–20 bets depending on how fast your spin settings are. That instant feedback is what makes slots more addictive than traditional betting options like sports betting.

[Churchillvv]

This is to say that the opposing party for the legalization of gambling sport books now have more evidence to use against the legalization of gambling sport books, not necessarily to favour the victim but the fact that their research is able to prove that more people cannot stop gambling. But that’s basic in every society, it is made special before there is an already established argument pushed against legalizing gambling sportbooks, so therefore is either there should be more regulation or there want to use this opportunity to push for ban. But sport betting is sane with casinos and its games but I perceive political agenda on the research.

[famososMuertos]

It's a study with a solid foundation of research, but as always, it's the individuals who have the problem. On the other hand, legalizing it doesn't have any sense of protection for users, maybe from a legal point of view, but from a health perspective, I don't think so. They legalize it and worry about it for tax reasons only; if it's not legal, the fees don't go into the government coffers.

[Darker45]

If the study didn't jump into those conclusions, then the study isn't at the best position to make those generalizations. What they provided were numbers. I haven't read the entire study. Was it comparative? Did they analyze their findings on sports betting vis-à-vis research numbers on casino usage, increase rate, or even addiction?

For me, both can be dangerous and addictive. It's just that the risk of addiction with casino games seems higher because they're available 24/7. The sports matches that one follows don't take place all day long every single day.

[Hispo]

It's a study with a solid foundation of research, but as always, it's the individuals who have the problem. On the other hand, legalizing it doesn't have any sense of protection for users, maybe from a legal point of view, but from a health perspective, I don't think so. They legalize it and worry about it for tax reasons only; if it's not legal, the fees don't go into the government coffers.

Correct. Only because something is legal, it does not mean there is some protection for customers in the slightest.
It pretty much clears the way for taxation and setting regulation of basic government oversight on commercial activities on companies, but in the same manner smoking is legal and companies do not offer any compensation to people who my get lung cancer because of tobacco smoke.

The government and companies assume people who partake in those activities are mature enough to have enough control on their own life and recognize what they do could be harmful to their own well being.

It would be interesting if part of the taxes being collected from tobacco companies were used to treat cancer patients, but it would be ironically controversial.

[Jody.Drummer]

Right you say, the reason why sports betting is popular is because sports is an activity that is popular even in all countries there must be so in tandem that interest in sports betting must be there and maybe indeed from time to time the number increases. But on the other hand, sports betting itself cannot be fully blamed for the increasing number of people who are interested in it, just like addiction, with the number of people who are addicted increasing it is due to their own mistakes and if the number increases this is good for casinos but bad for society. Moreover, if sports betting itself is legalized then the increase is certain and a natural thing.

[Oasisman]

If the study didn't jump into those conclusions, then the study isn't at the best position to make those generalizations. What they provided were numbers. I haven't read the entire study. Was it comparative? Did they analyze their findings on sports betting vis-à-vis research numbers on casino usage, increase rate, or even addiction?

I think it was not comparative. In my observation, this research only shows that the number of people getting interested in sports betting significantly increased, just like how the population increases everyday. So, it's just make sense that the cases of gambling addiction will also increase.

For me, both can be dangerous and addictive. It's just that the risk of addiction with casino games seems higher because they're available 24/7. The sports matches that one follows don't take place all day long every single day.

That's right.
I also believe other gambling games are far more addictive than sports gambling, for this exact reason.
Some cases may have been linked to sports betting maybe because the person is not only engaged in sports betting but also in some other highly addictive games.

[Don Pedro Dinero]

That's according to this report. https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/sports-gambling/gambling-disorder-increased-legalized-sports-betting-rcna351785
<...>
So what does that mean? Are they saying that if the government allows gambling, it will result in more addiction compared to not legalizing it at all?

The answer is right there in the article you’ve linked to.

“You increase access, you increase problems,” said Mark van der Maas, a social work professor at Rutgers University

“As soon as you introduce a new form of gambling or dramatically increase the availability of gambling, you will be increasing the number of people that are experiencing harm because of that gambling,” van der Maas said.

If, in a particular area, people go from being unable to place sports bets – at least legally – to being able to do so as they do today, 24/7 from their mobile phones, it is only to be expected that problem gambling will also increase. I’d say that legalisation isn’t as crucial as the increase in supply. When I was young, betting was legal in my country, but the only way to bet on sport was through the football pools. That was once a week. Nowadays, with the almost infinite availability and range of options on offer, I’m sure that problematic behaviour in this regard has also increased. 

[fullfitlarry]

Slots is more addicting than sports betting. But it doesn't mean that there are less likely sports bettors. We all know that sports is universal, and just like what we witnessed this year for the World cup as for sure there are tons of money flowing in every casino because of the event.

For the legal side, I'm not sure if this study is that accurate. There could still be some variance and I think we should also look at it. Maybe in the beginning, the numbers might be correct, but still though, it doesn't mean anything to us even if gambling is not legalized in certain countries, there are still ways for gamblers to go and bet.

[bitbollo]

There's a link to the study included in the article, you can read it here.
...

"New study" ?! Branded...Copyright © 2026 Epic Systems Corporation.
The link drive to a non Scientific research and this journal/website isn't a scientific publisher. It has not impact factor and they use only 4 references. This is what means "missing the study" since they are citing other works and make their interpretations.
Lacking of reviews (peer review) or anything else based on "scientific" process/research makes such claim just a bait and no more.

[viljy]

In order to make such a conclusion, you don't need to study at all. After all, this result is obvious! It's simply due to the scale effect: there are more bettors, which means there are more addicted people, and their share of the total number of gamblers has also increased. Studying obvious things leads to an obvious conclusion.

[DPHOR]

In order to make such a conclusion, you don't need to study at all. After all, this result is obvious! It's simply due to the scale effect: there are more bettors, which means there are more addicted people, and their share of the total number of gamblers has also increased. Studying obvious things leads to an obvious conclusion.

Of course you are right and I must say that the data that is fetched could be wrong or right but, I don't tends to see how sports bettors could be that addicted more than those who frequent on a casino game.
To me, I even tends to say the opposite that those who play slot game are more prone to be addictive since they would be that active playing their games but with sports betting there is a bit restriction which one could wait for like 24/7 before they could see their results.

[Somegory]

And you think that the Legalised part of gambling is why these people got addicted? I don't believe but I know some stupid people exists, who will likely feel like legalisation is a go for them to become irresponsible with gambling.

I disagree because many gamblers will conveniently gamble on a platform that's not legalized by the authority, some will even prefer to use a illegal betting platforms for their own weird reasons.

Sports betting doesn't have to be Legalised before gamblers become irresponsible with it, legalized or not, those who will become addicted or get their lives spoiled because of gambling will still exists.

[bakasabo]

I am not sure if gambling addiction has connection with legal or illegal gambling. For me it seems that it does not matter much where to gamble for a person who is very emotional and lack self-control skill. It also does not matter which games to play and number of games played. Because everything depends from character of a gambler. Popularity and accessibility are one of the things that increases addiction rate.

There is always a relation or connection with gambling operations, whether legal or illegal, otherwise the government would no longer regulate casinos.

When they regulate, they do not only require casinos to pay taxes, but also to comply with the rules, like not allowing minors to gamble. Why? Because minors are more prone to gambling addiction. That is the reason why gamblers should be at the right age, so they can decide more maturely.

So if gambling is not regulated, anyone can make advertisements, and that can attract many people to try gambling. Some advertisers even promote gambling like an investment, just to entice newbies.

It is either you dont get my point or I dont get yours. I was saying that no matter in which casino person plays, he will still get addicted if by character that person is prone to rapid addiction and involvement to activities he does. Dont know statistics, but I think number of addicted gambler who gamble in legal or illegal casinos are more or less the same. I dont understand why you have started talking about minors. As they both gamble in illegal and legal (until they are asked to pass KYC).