Legal gambling is a multi-billion dollar American industry that’s showing no signs of slowing down.
All forms, including in-person casinos, online casinos and sports betting apps, showed increases in 2024. Industry leaders say they contribute substantially to local economies and that they encourage responsible gambling, but not everyone is convinced.Â
Gambling addiction on the rise
The backstory:
Casino gambling was first legalized in Nevada in 1931. The Supreme Court paved the way for legal sports betting in 2018 when it declared a federal ban on it unconstitutional, fueling exponential growth in the online gambling industry.
FILE – Jake Sindberg of Wisconsin makes bets during a viewing party for the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casin(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
What they’re saying:
Gambling journalist Danny Funt, author of the upcoming book “Everybody Loses,” told FOX 5’s Lisa Evers there’s no question that the number of gamblers has grown dramatically in recent years.Â
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“Billions of dollars have been spent on marketing again in just a few years to convert people who were sports fans into sports gamblers,” Funt said. “There have always been people who bet on sports, but there’s no question that the population of people who now wager has expanded dramatically.”
By the numbers:
The American Gaming Association says all three forms of gambling — in-person casinos, online casinos and sports betting apps — contributed to the fourth straight year of record-setting revenue, generating a combined gross revenue of $71.9 billion.
Why you should care:
The growing popularity and social acceptance have also brought an increase in gambling disorders. A study by the National Council on Problem Gambling estimates that about 2.5 million Americans have severe problems, and another five to eight million have significant issues.Â
What are the warning signs?Â
Dig deeper:
Dr. Mena Mirhom, a psychiatrist and assistant professor at Columbia University, said warning signs of gambling addiction include isolation, irritability, depression and substance abuse.Â
“Mood-wise, when you’re beginning to see shifts in your own behavior, when you’re becoming more isolated, more secretive, and when it becomes more central to how you find joy and meaning,” Mirhom said.
High schooler turned gambling addict
Rob Minnick started placing sports bets when he was just 18 years old. He was a high school student, headed to college, and working a part-time job for about $15 an hour. When he learned he could sit around with his friends and make $100 through betting, he started betting regularly.
But unlike his friends who were able to walk away, Minnick became addicted.Â
“Growing up near Philadelphia, we loved our sports teams,” Minnick said. “And so it was kind of this no-brainer when I saw a commercial from a very well-known gambling conglomerate that said, hey, you can bet on daily fantasy sports and you only have to be 18 in the state of New Jersey at the time.”
What you can do:
Now in recovery for three years, Minnick helps others fight gambling addiction with his podcast and YouTube channel.Â
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-522-4700.
The Source: This report includes information from FOX 5’s Lisa Evers, gambling journalist Danny Funt, recovering gambling addict Rob Minnick, Dr. Mena Mirhom, the American Gambling Association and the National Council on Problem Gambling.