Rising Sports Betting Trend Puts Young Men at Risk of Gambling Addiction

In a rapid expansion of legal sports betting across 36 US states, the gambling industry is witnessing unprecedented growth. However, experts are expressing growing concerns about the toll it may take on the mental health of young men.

A Rutgers University Report Unveils the Impact of Online Betting on Gen Z

The surge in online betting, particularly through sportsbooks offering enticing incentives like credits and first-bet loss returns, has firmly gripped the attention of the Gen Z demographic, reported the New York Post. 

A recent 2023 gambling prevalence report from Rutgers University in New Jersey revealed a significant shift, with one-third of bettors aged 18 to 24 exclusively engaging in online wagering, surpassing any other age group and marking a fivefold increase from a 2017 report.

Lia Nower, the director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University School of Social Work, emphasized the hidden dangers of mobile gambling. She cautioned that individuals could be gambling away their houses on their mobile phones while sitting at the dinner table, and no one would be aware until the complete devastation of their entire families occurred.

Nower pointed out that the more individuals gamble, the higher the likelihood of developing not only gambling-related problems but also mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidality. 

A concerning revelation from the report was that younger men, specifically those aged 18 to 44, were identified as the most high-risk group for problem gambling. Of this group, 19% of individuals aged 18 to 24 were found to be at high risk for developing gambling-related issues.

Psychologist Reveals Gambling’s Dopamine Surge

Responsiblegambling.org highlighted that players between 18 to 20 years old were significantly more prone to chasing losses and betting beyond their financial means, raising alarms about the potential for immediate devastation.

Furthermore, psychologist James Whelan, director of The Institute for Gambling Education and Research at the University of Memphis, shed light on the addictive nature of gambling, comparing it to substances like smoking, drugs, or alcohol. 

Whelan explained that not the only one but the strongest factor in the addiction to smoking, drugs, or alcohol, debatably, is dopamine. He pointed out that when individuals gamble, their brains secrete more dopamine than when engaging in any of those other activities.

Pamela Brenner-Davis, team leader of the New York Council on Problem Gambling, warned that the under-25 population is particularly vulnerable to gambling addiction due to their not fully developed brains being predisposed to addiction. 

As the sports betting trend continues to rise, experts are urging for increased awareness and measures to protect the mental well-being of the younger demographic.