US gambling addiction searches increase, according to new study
Google searches relating to gambling addiction have increased by 23% since 2018, according to a new study published in the American Medical Association’s journal, JAMA Internal Medicine.
Sports betting was legalized in the US after the Supreme Court repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018.
The study looked at Google search data between 2016 and 2024, specifically focusing on search queries that mentioned gambling, addiction, addict, or anonymous hotline. It found that between 6.5 and 7.3 million nationwide queries were made for gambling addiction help.
Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia all saw an increase in gambling addiction searches of between 30% and 67%.
The study concluded that online sports betting poses a more significant risk than retail sports betting.
It used Pennsylvania as an example, citing a 33% increase in gambling addiction searches when retail sportsbooks launched in November compared to a 61% jump when online sports betting launched.
Adam Poliak, co-author and Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania, said, “This pattern highlights the amplified risks associated with the accessibility and convenience of online sports betting.”
The study comes as several US states have published numbers demonstrating record-breaking online sports betting on Super Bowl LIX, with Pikkit noting record engagement across the US with US$64 million in wagers.
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