Sports betting has grown exponentially across the country since the Supreme Court decided that states are allowed to legalize the industry.
Not only did total wagers rise to a hundred billion dollars, but keyword searches are also revealing signs of a widespread gambling addiction problem that threatens the public in terms of health and finances.
States and families have begun to file legal action against sports betting companies.
If you or your family has been affected by online gambling, Atraxia Law can help you file a sports betting addiction claim.
A research paper published in JAMA Internal Medicine tracked national trends, including Americans' betting activities and online search behavior from 2016 to 2024. They found that the rise of online sports betting platforms was linked to increasing search demand for gambling addiction help. The published paper also included these findings:
The effects of sports betting on the American population are felt both in drastic effects on mental health and in widespread economic losses. In 2018, sports betting only reached a total of around $7 billion. Seven years later, Americans' wagers exponentially increased to a total of $167 billion in 2025. With nearly half of men having an online sportsbook account, online sports betting has now become part of American daily life, along with all its negative effects.
Gambling addiction is classified as an addictive disorder, which means it may affect the brain similarly to how substance addiction does. Yet advertising for gambling is not restricted in the way that tobacco and alcohol ads are regulated. One of the study's recommendations included regulated advertising for online sports betting.
DraftKings and FanDuel ads have become commonplace instead of being restricted over the years after the Court allowed state legalization, but states are now starting to launch investigations into these companies' operations. California Attorney General Rob Bonta had declared that daily fantasy sports betting is violating state penal codes. Meanwhile, the city of Baltimore sued DraftKings and FanDuel's parent company?for misleading advertising and using consumer data to keep problem gamblers active in betting.
If you or a family member experienced financial losses or mental harm from online sports betting, our legal team can look into your case and your legal options. We highly urge you to contact our legal team as soon as possible so that we can evaluate your case and connect you with a competent lawyer. Don't hesitate to get your free evaluation and potentially recover what you lost from wagers and medical treatment costs.