Chavdar Vasilev is a gambling news writer with several years of experience in the iGaming industry. He started creating promotional content but soon found he loved reporting on the industry itself. Since then, he’s delivered...
Read Full BioSince the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which effectively legalized sports betting, the activity has experienced a surge in popularity nationwide.
Today, 39 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized sports betting, and nearly one in four adults has a sports betting account. That number jumps to roughly half of all men aged 18 to 49. In 2024, US adults wagered approximately $150 billion on sports.
Sports betting’s rise in popularity has generated substantial tax revenue, but it has also fueled a sharp increase in gambling addiction and problem gambling symptoms. One gambling regulator recently cautioned that the US market is becoming “a highway without speed limits.”
A common misconception is that sports betting is less addictive than casino gambling. That’s often attributed to a perceived element of skill or knowledge. However, research suggests that this is not the case; sports betting can be as addictive, especially with the rise of live betting, where outcomes are often resolved in seconds.
Key Statistics on Problem Gambling
The American Gaming Association reports that 21% of adults placed a sports bet in 2024. It also reports that 85% of sports bettors acknowledge the effectiveness of the responsible gambling tools provided.
Despite these tools, problem gambling is on the rise. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, about 2.5 million US adults meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem. Another five to eight million experience mild to moderate symptoms.
While these numbers are not separated between sports betting and casino gambling, a poll by Siena College Research Institute and St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication reveals troubling behaviors among online sports bettors:
- 52% have “chased” a bet.
- 37% have felt ashamed after losing.
- 20% lost money, which they couldn’t afford.
- 20% have lied about the extent of their sports betting
- 34% know someone with an online sports betting problem
- 23% had had someone express concern about their betting, but only 9% ever sought help with problem gambling.
Treatment providers report a clear demographic trend. Birches Health reports an “ alarming influx of young male bettors across the US seeking assistance for serious gambling problems.” Elliott Rapaport, founder of Birches Health, notes that even people in states without legalized sports betting easily find ways to bet.
Traditionally, that’s been due to illegal offshore platforms. However, recently, event prediction platforms like Kalshi have given access to “sports betting” to many outside legal jurisdiction.
That has led to several state regulators engaging in legal battles with Kalshi. While the platform has been successful so far, a recent questioning by a federal judge in a case against Maryland could pose a threat to Kalshi’s sports event prediction market.
The Cultural Halo Effect and Hidden Risks of Sports Betting
Sports undoubtedly hold a special cultural significance in the US, often seen as a wholesome pastime and bonding activity. This cultural approval extends to sports betting. It creates a halo effect that frames the activity as a less hazardous form of gambling compared to casino games.
Many people don’t consider sports betting as gambling, or at least not as risky. That’s tied to the notion of sports being something culturally ingrained and celebrated. Additionally, many bettors’ perception of their knowledge about the sport or game creates the illusion of control. That’s a belief that the individual’s skills or expertise can influence the outcome of an event.
This perception dangerously downplays the addiction risks linked to sports betting. Casino games, slots in particular, have long been associated with addictive triggers. However, the evolving nature of sports betting is adopting similar elements. The rise of mobile access and in-play (live) betting in particular mirrors the rapid feedback of casino games.
A revealing statistic from the poll by Siena College Research Institute and St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School shows that 86% of sports bettors think they can make money from sports betting. That’s an increase from the 80% in 2024. Don Levy, Siena College Research Institute’s director, highlights the mindset of sports bettors (especially young men) that the activity is harmless entertainment (a UK Gambling Commission survey also supports that):
“Bettors, overwhelmingly young men, say online betting is fun, interesting and exciting and 54% of them place bets at least once or twice a week. Nearly 80% benefitted from promotions in which they were awarded money for participation and while most think they can make money gambling, only 30% say in hindsight they’ve won more than lost.”
Parlays and Live Bets: The Most Dangerous Forms of Sports Betting?
Recent research highlights specific bet types driving higher risk behavior.
A study, conducted in collaboration with researchers from the UK and Australia and Kindred Group’s Unibet brand, analyzed anonymized behavioral data from 100,000 UK online gamblers to identify which products most strongly correlate with markers of potential harm.
The study identified six behaviors associated with problem gambling. Then, they used a scale from 0 to 1.0 to measure the connection between the type of gambling and those behaviors. A score of 0 means no correlation. Meanwhile, a score of 1.0 shows that every gambler using that product exhibited those behaviors.
The most at-risk gambling product was slots, with a score of 0.34. That was unsurprising to researchers as slots have a rapid event frequency. Notably, the research found that parlay bets also pose a significant risk. That was especially the case for in-play “combo” parlays, which took the second spot with a score of 0.22.
These parlays, also known as round robins, require users to bet on a large number of mini parlays simultaneously. That increases the chances of getting some return in exchange for a higher wager.
This study focuses on the UK, and its direct applicability to the US market is uncertain. However, research shows that parlays and live bets are among the most popular bet types in the US.
According to Birches Health, 70% of all bets on the NFL and NBA on FanDuel in 2023 were parlays. On a state level, parlays accounted for 32.2% of sports betting handle and 72.5% of gross revenue in September 2024 in New Jersey.
Meanwhile, research from Statista shows that live bets are the most popular type of bet.
Is Sports Betting Less Addictive Than Casino Gambling?
While the Kindred study reveals that slots pose the highest threat, research is increasingly debunking the idea that sports betting is safer.
According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, problem gambling rates among sports bettors are at least twice as high as those of other gamblers. That rate is even higher for those placing sports bets online.
The New Jersey Gambling Prevalence Study, conducted by the Rutgers University Center for Gambling Studies, further highlights behavioral differences between sports bettors and other gamblers.
The study found that sports bettors are more likely to exhibit signs of problem gambling. Also, they bet on a greater number of outcomes than others (nine vs. five). The study also revealed “alarming results” regarding mental health problems.
Sports bettors were significantly more likely to use tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs. They reported 10 times higher rates of attempting suicide than other gamblers. Other mental health problems include being 10 times more likely to pay for sex or have unprotected sex with strangers than non-sports bettors.
The illusion of control among sports bettors also encourages bettors to chase losses more frequently. Going back to the Sienna College poll, 52% said they’ve chased losses (58% among young males, 18-24).
Meanwhile, research in British Columbia revealed that, on average, gamblers returned more slowly after a loss across most game types. That indicates a lower tendency to chase losses compared to sports bettors.
