Sports betting has changed. Could it affect your health?

Michael Merschel, AHA News

Sports betting has undergone a major transformation in recent years, driven by legal changes and mobile technology. “It’s not even the same world,” says Dr. Timothy Fong, a psychiatry professor at UCLA and co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program. Twenty years ago, betting legally required a trip to a casino in Las Vegas or Atlantic City. Today, thanks to mobile apps and widespread legalization, you can gamble from anywhere.

This shift has been propelled by hundreds of millions of dollars spent on advertising by the gambling industry, making sports betting more accessible than ever. However, few people realize the potential health consequences tied to this type of gambling. According to Fong, gambling is “completely intertwined with our physical health.”

The 2018 Supreme Court ruling that lifted restrictions on sports betting in the U.S. ignited a boom, with 38 states and Washington D.C. now offering legal betting. In 2023, a record $119.8 billion was legally wagered on sports. Bettors can now wager on everything from individual pitches in a baseball game to obscure sports like Polish table tennis.

While this accessibility excites gamblers and benefits the industry, it raises concerns about problematic gambling behavior. Dr. Marc Potenza, a psychiatry professor at Yale University and director of Yale’s Center of Excellence in Gambling Research, points to the risks associated with the rise in sports betting. After Connecticut legalized sports betting in 2021, calls to the state’s gambling helpline jumped 91%, most from young men or their families. Other states have seen similar patterns.

Research shows that gambling problems often coincide with other health issues. About 1% of U.S. adults meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem, with an additional 2-3% having mild or moderate issues, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling. Fong says those with gambling disorders often experience poor physical health, are less likely to engage in self-care, and are more prone to smoking, heavy drinking, and cannabis use.

A study co-authored by Potenza in 2013 found that older adults with gambling problems were more than twice as likely to develop arteriosclerosis, a condition where plaque builds up in arteries, and 53% more likely to develop heart conditions. Another 2023 study on Swedish gamblers found higher rates of cardiovascular, respiratory, and diabetes-related issues among problem gamblers.

Much of the existing research predates the current sports-betting boom, and researchers are only beginning to explore how different types of gambling might affect health. A 2023 study found that sports bettors are more likely to be binge drinkers than non-gamblers, but more research is needed.

Fong emphasizes that gambling taps into the brain’s reward systems, releasing chemicals that bring pleasure but can also lead to stress. The stress associated with gambling has been linked to various health issues, and problem gamblers often experience significant physical and mental tolls. Fong compares modern sports betting to playing a slot machine, where people may sit for hours, awaiting the next bet.

For most people, gambling is a form of entertainment. A 2022 Harris Poll found that 42% of sports bettors did so because their friends were doing it. However, Potenza warns that secretive behavior or lying about gambling is a sign of concern. If someone feels they’re losing control, he recommends seeking help early, as the consequences can escalate.

Fong stresses the importance of addressing gambling problems before they spiral into severe issues, like financial ruin or legal trouble. “By the time people come see providers like me, things are really, really severe,” he says. Though many questions remain about how sports betting affects health, Fong believes significant progress has been made in recent years, with much more still to be uncovered.

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