Imagine that, over the course of the next 24 hours, all of the sports-betting platforms and booths are shut down, without any loopholes or alternatives. Nothing. Just everything that facilitates people who want to bet on the outcomes or statistics of a sports game. Take a moment. What did you see? What did you envision? It might show you how deeply sports betting has embedded itself in our daily lives. But to fully understand the impact of sports betting on modern-day society, the US proves itself a valuable case study.

Funnily enough, most forms of gambling, including sports betting, were heavily restricted and even illegal in many US states. In 1992, sports betting was effectively outlawed by the federal government under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), with a few states as exceptions, such as Nevada (effective January 1st, 1993). The aim was to protect the integrity of sports competitions and prevent match-fixing and corruption. But as a result, people and gambling syndicates resorted to unlawful sources, expanding illegal betting markets that operate outside regulation.

However, PASPA was struck down by the Supreme Court 26 years later in Murphy v. NCAA (2018) . It determined that the federal government could not commandeer independent state legislatures, paving the way for individual states to draft legislation and legalize sports betting. The main motivations behind this change were to eradicate unlawful sports gambling and put illegal gambling companies out of business, thereby generating valuable tax revenue. This would ensure that sports betting becomes a safe and legal form of entertainment that protects consumers’ rights.

But even after all of this, after the actions taken to minimize illegal actvities and generate money that would be spent for the welfare of people, is sports betting worth it? Even after legalization and regulation, this topic remains heavily debated.

Neuroimaging shows that gambling, including sports betting, activates the same brain-reward circuits as taking tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, and other drugs. Unpredictable rewards and near-misses in parlays trigger excessive dopamine release, desensitizing the person’s brain to other reward stimuli. In 2013, Gambling Disorder was recognized as a behavioral health condition and addictive disorder in DSM-5, alongside substance use disorders. The risk is especially high for teenagers and young adults, whose brains are still maturing. Many people face losses while gambling, and to “chase” their losses, they bet even more.  It leads to significant financial debt, long-term regret, and depression. In addition, gambling still ruins lives by causing insomnia, relationship stress, extreme emotions, and mood swings. People have even reported having suicidal thoughts.

Carrying on, betting companies play a pivotal role in shaping user behavior. Companies operate on the assumption that most users can gamble responsibly, while in each US state, after sports betting was legalized, betting companies, through aggressive marketing and influencer sponsorships, normalized sports betting. Enticing promotional bets and engaging success ads encourage people to gamble, while the instant gratification further embellishes the potential harm. Bonus reward systems were designed so that people would keep making bets, increasing the risk of harmful gambling behaviors in individuals and eventually developing an addiction. Furthermore, the entire “sports” betting market has also indirectly targeted younger demographics through sports sponsorships and heavy online promotion. In the US, there has been an increasing number of cases of gambling disorder or addiction in college students, attributable to the advertising of sports betting in colleges and numerous exclusive partnerships with institutions.

The impact extends beyond consumers into competitive sports themselves. Professionals, including players, coaches, managers, and referees, have been increasingly found to be linked to betting-related activities. In many cases, such individuals have been fined, penalized, or even banned from the sport for placing bets they were directly or indirectly involved in, raising questions about the integrity of sports. Even the perception of such involvement can severely harm the credibility of sports and trust in sporting outcomes. A few examples include the Turkish Football Federation Mass Suspension and individual cases involving players such as Lucas Paqueta and Ivan Toney.

The final issue reveals itself when we compare the rehabilitation facilities and funding set aside for people with gambling disorder to traditional addictions like drug, alcohol, or tobacco. Even though gambling disorder is classified as an addictive disorder, the infrastructure and support system for affected individuals are still underdeveloped compared to substance-related disorder services. It suggests that the same level of urgency is not present when the topic shifts to people with gambling disorder. And the ease with which a person can place bets increases the rate of relapse in former addicts.

Addressing the harms of sports betting requires coordinated action from both institutions and the public. This includes improving access to treatment, increasing awareness of gambling-related harm, and implementing stronger regulatory measures such as advertising limits and self-exclusion tools. Introducing a culture where affected individuals can openly express their troubles will also help regulate the harms of sports betting. Finally, sports-betting establishments should introduce stronger age-verification measures, including biometric authentication and ID card verification before a user can place a bet. 

Gambling has always been a major social issue, but the advent of sports betting has amplified its reach and potency. Now the question is: Is society ready to tackle the growing risks of this form of entertainment?