By Randolph Campbell

As sports continue to be a main source of entertainment for almost every American, viewership and popularity have skyrocketed due to the growing popularity of sports gambling. Online gambling has becomes one of the world’s fastest growing economic sectors in the past 20 years. Currently, the sports betting market size is valued at 88.65 billion USD, while it is projected to hold a value of 182.12 billion USD in 2030. Ever since online sports betting started in 1996, it has impacted the economy in a significant way.  

Despite the negative outcomes that can result from sports betting, the thrill of winning a bet has been and continues to be the spark that keeps avid gamblers hooked. For participants that find themselves on a winning streak, they might think that they have outsmarted bookmakers and experts in Las Vegas, which really means there attached to the thrill. Just as gamblers start to raise the amount of money they bet, some fall into a deep hole, trying to win their way out of it.

Ever since the addition of online sports betting, there has been a dramatic increase in the viewership of the NFL and the NBA. Online sports books FanDuel, DraftKings and Caesars Sports Book are three of the most used websites for sports betting. These gambling sites do an exceptional job advertising their company through social media, commercials, and youtube ads. For example, DraftKings’ promotes a commercial where they say, “Bet five dollars and you receive 20 dollars of ‘free play.’” This sort of “deal” is meant to attract new customers to sports gambling. Online sites try their hardest to trick their users into taking these “deals” because they know that it will eventually benefit the site in the long run.

In an article written by Gavin Bridge for Variety, data in a chart collected in October 2022 stated that 67% of sports betters watch the NFL more than usual when betting on a game. Similarly, the chart also said that 57% watch the NBA more when betting on a game. As more people place bets on games, views go up on numerous channels, creating a positive ripple effect on network views because of the bets that have been placed. NFL and NBA games are the two most favored sports to bet on, yet college football, college basketball, UFC, NHL, and soccer are also popular sports for online gambling.

Draft Kings logo. Image credit: Casino Connection via flickr.

For people who are not involved with sports gambling, many individuals wonder, “Where exactly in the population do these sites get their users from?” Well, studies have shown that the younger generations have displayed a greater appeal to sports betting because of its easy access. David Wyld writes in Medium that a study shows that 80% of all online sportsbook users are men, and 50% of users are between the ages of 18-34, while the average age is 38.

Online sports betting has been most appealing to Millennials, as well as as the Gen Z generation, now that they have reached the legal age. While the legal limit for sports betting differs between states, underage gambling seems to be quite common for both high school and college students. Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Washington have an age limit of 18 and older, while every other state, including Virginia, requires users to be 21 and older. Regarding Virginia, the DraftKings website states, “Virginia legalized sports betting in April 2020. Anyone who is at least 21 years of age, has a valid United States Social Security Number and is physically located within the state of Virginia can bet with DraftKings Sportsbook there. It operates under the Virginia Lottery.” Gambling underage results in a Class 1 misdemeanor; however, this risk likely does not shy away underage gamblers. 

U.S News’ Cole Clayborne stated, “Major universities, with tens of thousands of students and potentially millions of fans, have become a particularly attractive market for sports betting companies, especially in an age of heightened use of digital technology.” As some sports books have partnered with schools for their own revenue, it has created a crucial issue within large universities. For example, Caesars Sports Book partnered with Louisiana State University (LSU), which pushed students to begin gambling just for the benefit of the school’s own profit. Many people have questioned the ethics of these partnerships and feel as if it is stripping away the students potential to thrive at universities. Clayborne says that “About 6% of U.S. college students say they have a serious problem gambling.” As many college and high school students begin gambling at an early age, the risk of becoming addicted rises to an alarming rate.

Within the past decade, it is clear that online sports gambling has grown in popularity because of its easy accessibility. Healthcare journalist Samantha Gluck states in HealthyPlace that “electronic gambling games may be the most addictive gambling games out there.” Online gambling sites are more potent to develop problematic gambling habits. 

There are many signs that show if an individual is truly addicted. The Mayo Clinic has a list of symptoms for a gambling addiction, with the top symptom as, “Being preoccupied with gambling, such as constantly planning gambling activities and how to get more gambling money.” Despite the growing research surrounding this issue, sports gambling continues to be an issue that is developing into a true addiction. 

Featured photo credit: Baishampayan Ghose via Wikimedia Commons.