(Wilmington, DE) — Diagnoses of gambling disorder is on the rise in states that have legalized sports betting.
Gambling disorder is a recognized mental health condition in which patients often cannot stop gambling, despite the growing distress and harm they experience. According to a new study by private firm Epic Research, diagnoses rose more than 60 percent since 2018, with the biggest increase among young men.
However, Epic Research also found a decline in diagnoses in the eleven states that did not legalize sports betting, with cases dropping by about 30 percent from 2018 to March 2026.
Sports betting has exploded across the U.S. following a landmark Supreme Court ruling that paved the way for states to legalize online sportsbooks.
