Gambling has been around throughout history, with evidence of it as early as 2000 B.C. However, it wasn’t until 1980 that gambling addiction became a diagnosis. Today, gambling addiction is on the rise.

Until 2018, when the Supreme Court struck down the law banning sports betting, pathological or addicted gamblers made up less than 1% of adults in the U.S. To date, 38 states and Washington, D.C., allow sports betting and 30 of those states allow online sports betting.

Since Florida legalized sports betting last November, calls to state crisis gambling support lines have doubled.

Online betting app FanDuel has about 2.5 million average monthly players. DraftKings reported 1.5 million users monthly at the end of 2020 and was up to 3.5 million by the end of 2023.

Experts note that online sports betting can be more addictive because it may seem less risky for people with sports knowledge. Mobile apps allow people to take money directly from their bank accounts to bet, and push notifications create a sense of urgency that can foster addictive behavior.

A driving force for gambling addiction often stems from the belief that a big win is inevitable. That feeling of anticipation fuels the fire, encouraging people to keep playing in hopes of finally hitting the jackpot.

What’s more, advertising for online betting is enticing younger people to gamble. About $282 million was spent on national TV ads for U.S. sports betting from September 2021 to May 2022 by U.S. sports betting.

Gambling Can Start Young

In 2021, the National Council on Problem Gambling found that one-fourth of young adults experienced at least one sign of problem gambling, such as hiding bets from other people or irritability when they tried to quit.

Among college students, a 2023 survey revealed that 60% of students gambled illegally, and one in five used financial aid to support their habit. After it became legal, online sports gambling was reported by one in four college students.

However, gambling problems can begin at even younger ages. By adolescence, studies show about 40% of youth have played simulated gambling games (without financial risk). In addition, some online games offer players the opportunity to purchase “loot boxes,” where they receive a mystery item that may or may not help them in the game. Researchers have determined that many of these loot boxes are a form of gambling because they may or may not deliver a payoff, much like a slot machine.

Beginning to gamble at a younger age increases the chances of developing a gambling addiction. Up to 5% of adolescents and young adults who gamble develop a disorder.

Because different parts of the brain mature at different rates, teenagers are more vulnerable to gambling and other risk-taking behaviors. Studies have linked gambling disorders to variations in the brain, particularly areas that include social and emotional stress and reward processing. The area of the brain that regulates impulses and decisions generally develops later, particularly in boys.

Spotting Signs of a Gambling Problem

Signs of problem gambling include:

  • Inability to meet financial obligations, asking for money and potentially theft. People have filed for bankruptcy or lost their homes.
  • Irresponsibility, such as missing work, school or other obligations.
  • Relationship breakdowns from irritability and lying.

Moreover, when betting gets out of control, it is not just the gambler’s problem. Many of the increased calls to the gambling help lines are from impacted friends and family.

Here are some signs you or someone you love may have a gambling addiction:

  • You spend more money on gambling than you can afford
  • You gamble when you should be doing something else
  • You feel anxious or stressed about your gambling
  • You use gambling to deal with problems or difficult feelings
  • You lie to family and friends about your gambling
  • You borrow or steal to fund your gambling

Like drugs or alcohol, gambling can become an addiction when it is compulsive and out of control, causing low self-esteem, stress, anxiety and depression. At the extreme, gambling addiction is linked to thoughts of suicide.

The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling estimates that about 2% of Florida’s population has a gambling behavioral disorder. However, as many as 90% or more of people with gambling problems never seek help.

Like many other forms of addiction, gambling addiction can be treated, often with cognitive behavioral therapy. If gambling has become a problem, seek help from a mental and behavioral health professional.

About the Author

Andrew Penn is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor for Elite DNA Behavioral Health. Elite DNA seeks to provide accessible, affordable mental health care to everyone and has become one of the largest mental health providers in the state, providing in-person and virtual behavioral health services to children, adolescents and adults at more than 30 locations across Florida.

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