The Online Gambling Epidemic

Lately, you might have noticed some of your favorite celebrities in gaming and online casino/betting ads. Maybe Pedro Pascal in ‘Merge Mansion‘, Drew Barrymore in ‘Bingo Blitz’, as well as a slew of very popular celebrities in Sports Betting ads, such as Eli Manning, Post Malone, Drake and more.

Due to the extreme rise of these gaming and betting platforms, the amount of money that has been spent on gambling in total has gone up $4 billion in just the last year.

The National Council on Problem Gambling estimates that the annual national social cost of problem gambling is $14 billion (NCPG). (These costs include job loss, bankruptcy, gambling-related healthcare spending and other consequences).

The story of sports betting dates back to the 1919 World Series. Known as the infamous ‘Black Sox’ Scandal, eight players from the White Sox were accused of conspiring to lose the series in exchange for money from gamblers (learn more). Nevada was one of the first states to re-legalize gambling after this scandal in 1931. The state also gets one third of its general state tax revenue from taxes on gambling (NVBar).

In the 2000s, sports betting began to gain momentum. In 2011, New Jersey legalized sports betting, and in 2018 the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports betting. (Sports Entrepreneur).

According to NPR, a record $1.39 billion was expected to be bet on the 2025 Super Bowl, up from $1.25 million last year (NPR).

The dangerous behavior of compulsive gambling has also made its way into mainstream media through Twitch streaming. Similar to how we can just add a credit card to our phone applications such as ‘Bingo Blitz‘ and ‘Merge Mansion‘, casino games are now available right on our computers. This creates a dangerous cycle for those with a gambling problem, who broadcast their winnings and losings on Twitch.

Casinos and game developers can leverage social media’s rich array of information to enhance individual player experiences on social gaming platforms by taking advantage of user interactions, preferences, engagement patterns, and personalized offers that cater specifically to each platform’s players (Cog Connected).

Each state has its own rules for online betting, with some having no time-outs for online play, or presenting betting as ‘risk-free’. To find all of the betting regulations in your state, check out the NCPG’s Regulations for Sports Betting Regulations. Due to how these regulations are/are not enforced, online casinos are most likely to follow some of these same guidelines and restrictions. In Pennsylvania, there are time-outs, staffing qualifications and parameters that must be followed regarding minors and how betting is distributed.

During this Problem Gambling month, it is important to check in on your friends and family that are using these apps and recognize the signs of a gambling disorder.

Visit here for a list of signs and information and resources available for problem gambling.

COCA’s RISE Center also has a weekly Gamblers Anonymous support group for those who want to meet in person. It is held weekly from 10 AM to 11:30 AM on Wednesdays.