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The sports gambling landscape changed in 2018 when the US Supreme Court cleared the way for states to legalize online sports betting. A sports betting feature that used to be confined to casinos in Nevada is now accessible nationwide through smartphones.
Despite the billions in revenue that states rake in from the industry, experts are raising their concerns about the compulsive dynamics of online sports betting, where players have hundreds of different bets they can place from the comfort of their homes.
Online gambling addiction is associated with other behavioral issues and mental health problems. This is why experts are looking at this widespread activity as a growing public health crisis.
The Siena Research Institute estimates that about 48 percent of men (aged 18 to 49 years old) have at least one online sportsbook account. Instead of being localized in a Nevada casino, bettors now have immediate access to the betting platform at any time of the day. They also have full access to their bank accounts and credit cards whenever a notification from DraftsKing or FanDuel comes up. With such ease of access, experts are now concerned about the following health risks that come with online gambling:
The most concerning problem that is cited in lawsuits is the potential to cause gambling addiction among users. Gambling disorder is categorized as a substance-related disorder, which means it involves heavy dependence on external factors rather than ritualistic behavior. Heavy marketing and predatory promotions by apps like DraftKings and FanDuel can lead to users spiraling deeper into gambling addiction. Losing hundreds of thousands of dollars will make it even more difficult for players to afford professional treatment.
A 2024 study discovered that severe gambling problems also occurred with symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness, and psychological distress. These symptoms may be due to the cycles of highs and lows that users go through in repetitive betting. The researchers also found that these users tend to feel dissatisfied with life and struggle with connectedness. Alarmingly, gambling disorder has the highest suicide rate among all known addiction disorders. One in five people with a gambling disorder will attempt suicide.
Studies have found that sports gamblers were also twice as likely to binge drink alcohol (or consume five or more drinks at a time) compared to those who don't bet on sports. Gambling problems often come alongside excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption, or even drug use.
Diagnosis of mental health issues related to gambling may qualify you for a sports betting addiction claim, along with significant economic losses. You may check the following criteria for a sports betting addiction claim:
We highly encourage you to contact Atraxia Law to get a free case evaluation to check your qualification, as each unique case may fit the requirements differently.
Even if you don't exactly meet all the criteria mentioned, you may still contact our legal team to get a thorough evaluation of your situation. Once we've checked your history and seen that you're qualified, we'll connect you with a competent lawyer. They can file the sports betting addiction claim on your behalf and pursue compensation for economic losses, medical costs and other damages.